The Cleveland Browns’ revolving door has spun again. They’ve looking for an offensive coordinator and a quarterbacks coach.
Coordinator Kyle Shanahan and coach Dowell Loggains will not return to the team, a person familiar with the decisions told The Associated Press on Thursday. Shanahan and Loggains spent one year on Mike Pettine’s staff in Cleveland but will not be back for the 2015 season, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Browns have not commented on the moves.
It’s not immediately clear if Shanahan asked to be released from his contract or was fired, although ESPN.com cited a league source in reporting that he resigned. The same source said Loggains was fired.
FOX Sports first reported the departures, which sources told ESPN.com came because the coaches didn’t agree with the front office about starting rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel. The front office wanted Manziel to start, but the coaches resisted.
Manziel tweeted reaction to the news but quickly deleted it.
During his season-ending news conference last week, Pettine praised Shanahan and said he expected him to be back next season. Cleveland’s coaching staff reconvened this week to evaluate players and plan ahead, but Shanahan won’t be part of the team’s future.
Change has been a consistent trend in Cleveland. With Kyle Shanahan gone, the Browns will begin searching for their sixth coordinator in six years. Shanahan’s offense made strides this season, but the team lost its last five games and starting quarterback Brian Hoyer was benched for rookie Johnny Manziel.
Loggains spent the previous eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans. His claim to fame with the Browns was telling an Arkansas radio station that Manziel sent him a text message during the draft that the quarterback wanted to “wreck this league together.” Loggains said he forwarded the text to Pettine and owner Jimmy Haslam. The Browns moved up from No. 26 to No. 22 and selected Manziel, who spent the first 13 games backing up Hoyer before making two starts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Thumbnail photo via Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports Images
