The Browns on Friday are interviewing New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for the team's head coach opening.
McDaniels, a Northeast Ohio native who has won six Super Bowls in his multiple stints with the Patriots, is the eighth candidate to interview. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh interviewed last week. Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll interviewed Monday, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz interviewed Wednesday and Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski interviewed Thursday.
McDaniels, 43, has been the Patriots offensive coordinator since he rejoined the team in 2012. The unit picked up right where it left off under McDaniels' watch, ranking in the league's top 10 on eight separate occasions from 2006-2008 and 2012-present. The Patriots boasted the league's No. 1 offense in 2007, 2012 and 2017. McDaniels has worked closest with future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, who has made the Pro Bowl 10 times with McDaniels as his quarterbacks coach and/or coordinator. New England won three Super Bowls during McDaniels' current stint (2012, 2015, 2017) and three others (2002, 2004, 2005) when he was establishing himself as an assistant during the early part of his career.
McDaniels has head coaching experience, too. From 2009-10, McDaniels served as the head coach of the Denver Broncos, going 11-17 before his dismissal. McDaniels won his first six games as a head coach but the team ultimately hit a rough patch and finished 8-8. The Broncos were 3-9 before parting ways with him in 2010.
McDaniels began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Michigan State in 1999. He joined the Patriots in 2001 as a personnel assistant and steadily rose the ranks before taking over as quarterbacks coach in 2004. He assumed the offensive coordinator role in 2006 and held that position until he left for the Broncos.
McDaniels grew up in nearby Canton and starred as a quarterback at Canton McKinley High School, where his father, Thom, was the longtime head coach. He played wide receiver and quarterback at John Carroll from 1995-98.
Bio Blast
Josh McDaniels - Patriots offensive coordinator
Age: 43
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
College: John Carroll
NFL experience: 19 years
Check out photos of who the Browns are interviewing to be their next head coach
FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 file photo, Minnesota Vikings interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Vikings have appointed Kevin Stefanski as offensive coordinator, after his interim stint over the last three games of the season. The 36-year-old Stefanski was promoted on Dec. 11 to replace John DeFilippo, who was fired in his first season on the job amid persistent struggles by the Vikings in moving the ball. Stefanski was a candidate for the head coach vacancy with the Cleveland Browns, who instead picked their own interim offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2020, file photo, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels watches his team warm up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans, in Foxborough, Mass. With the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants completing coaching hires on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, the Cleveland Browns job vacancy will be the last NFL opening filled. It's still unclear how quickly that will happen. The Browns, who fired Freddie Kitchens after just one season, are in the second week of interviews and have scheduled meetings this week with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Vikings coordinator Kevin Stefanski. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh looks on during warmups prior to an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in New Orleans. The 49ers defeated the Saints, 48-46. (Ryan Kang via AP)
FILE - In this June 12, 2019, file photo, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman speaks with reporters at the NFL football team's training facility in Owings Mills, Md. The success of the Ravens has created an interest in coordinators Greg Roman and Don Martindale as potential candidates to fill NFL head coaching vacancies. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll watches the team warm up before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is seen on the sidelines during a game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Atlanta. The Falcons won 24-20. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Detroit. The Chiefs defeated the Lions 34-30. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 24-17. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Detroit. The Chiefs defeated the Lions 34-30. (Joe Robbins via AP)
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels coaches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 24-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll watches practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Pittsford, N.Y., Thursday, July 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz speaks with members of the media during NFL football training camp Friday, July 27, 2018 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy watches during the first half of the NFL football Super Bowl XLV game with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman watches pregame warmups before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Los Angeles. The Ravens defeated the Rams 45-6. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Minnesota Vikings interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
