The Cleveland Browns’ pursuit of their next head coach faced another setback on Thursday, as Jesse Minter, the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator, opted not to attend his scheduled second interview. Reports suggest that Minter is exploring more promising opportunities, with interest from the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens.
Mary Kay Cabot from cleveland.com confirmed that Minter’s decision reflects his belief that other head coach positions may be more favorable for his career prospects. Minter was among five candidates initially earmarked by the Browns for a second-round interview, which included defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, offensive coordinator Todd Monken of the Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, and Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
This week, the Browns also experienced a similar situation when Mike McDaniel withdrew from consideration, ultimately taking the offensive coordinator role with the Chargers. While the loss of McDaniel may not be detrimental, it necessitates that the Browns interview another minority candidate to comply with the NFL’s Rooney Rule. If Scheelhaase’s interview proceeds as planned, he would count as one candidate, but general manager Andrew Berry will need to seek another minority candidate to meet league requirements.
As the Browns navigate this process, they must contend with competition from other teams for their remaining candidates. Schwartz has already interviewed with the Ravens, while Monken is expected to join the New York Giants if he doesn’t secure the head coach position with the Browns. Meanwhile, Udinski has garnered interest from the Buffalo Bills, who have requested to interview him, and Scheelhaase has spoken with the Ravens, Raiders, and Steelers.
The week began with the Browns’ interview schedule looking promising, but the withdrawals of McDaniel and Minter have complicated their plans. However, with a strategically cleared calendar, there remains hope that Berry will find the right candidate to lead the team into the future. As the search continues, optimism remains that the Browns will ultimately hire a head coach who can unify the team and drive them toward success.