The Cleveland Browns are now over two weeks into their head coaching search after firing two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, and there aren’t many indications that the team is close to landing his successor. This game of musical chairs is closing in on the Browns as other teams around the NFL have already found their guys, including the Atlanta Falcons, who hired Stefanski, but the Browns still have some interviews to work through.
The recent news of former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel declining a second interview in Cleveland and opting to join the Los Angeles Chargers as their new offensive coordinator raised a few red flags and made some fans question the search as a whole. It’s unclear what is happening and who the favorites are at this point, but one analyst recently shared a wild theory that could provide a bit of clarity for a perplexed fan base.
During a recent conversation on ESPN Cleveland, Aaron Goldhammer added his two cents on Cleveland’s coaching search. He proposed a couple of shocking names that haven’t been in the mix whatsoever, but certainly would bring some excitement to a franchise that needs it.
“I have two things that are coming together at the same time: the mystery candidate and the college candidate. We have not heard boo about the Browns wanting to talk to a college coach, whether it be Ryan Day. I think they reached out about interviewing Marcus Freeman. Talking about finding a way to impress everybody and satisfying the Rooney Rule, Marcus Freeman would do both of those things. Then, there’s also the name Ryan Day, who has not been linked to this job once by anybody, in part because he’s not being considered, but the Browns have some time on their hands now. The college coach and the mystery candidate, I still think it’s yet to come,” Goldhammer said.
.@HammerNation19 thinks that there might be mystery Browns coaching candidates that we don't know about 😯😯😯 pic.twitter.com/Jpi8qahkwC
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) January 21, 2026
This would be fun, but the harsh reality is that there is zero reason to believe Freeman or Day would leave two of the most successful and prestigious college programs. Day just won a national championship, and Freeman was the runner-up in that game, while the Browns are 8-26 over the past two seasons.
College coaches jumping to the pros haven’t had a ton of success of late, and it’s outrageous to think that the Browns are in a position right now to land one of the best that the NCAA has to offer. There are plenty of exciting coordinators on the market, many of whom have already interviewed with the Browns, so it’s more important to focus on names like Dan Pitcher and Grant Udinski.
Freeman or Day likely isn’t happening, and it’s disingenuous to get the fans’ hopes up at all on this front, but that doesn’t mean the Browns won’t still land somebody exciting.
NEXT: Tommy Rees Expected To Join Kevin Stefanski With Falcons
