CLEVELAND — With the New England Patriots having been eliminated from the NFL Playoffs, Josh McDaniels is now free to interview for head coaching openings.
And while the Cleveland Browns are currently on McDaniels' schedule, they'll also be holding their breath that their chance to interview the coveted head coaching candidate actually comes.
According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, McDaniels is currently scheduled to interview with Cleveland on Friday. But before then, the 43-year-old will interview with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday and the New York Giants on Wednesday, leaving at least a slim possibility that McDaniels could accept another job before his interview with the Browns arrives.
Despite the late interview, McDaniels has been the head coaching candidate most consistently linked to Cleveland since the Browns fired Freddie Kitchens following their 6-10 season in 2019. What's more is that the Barberton, Ohio, native appears to have a clear interest in returning to Northeast Ohio and was such a fan of Baker Mayfield heading into the 2018 NFL Draft that it was rumored the Patriots would trade up to take him if Cleveland hadn't selected the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner first overall.
But while McDaniels-Browns pairing makes plenty of sense, there has also been speculation that the former Denver Broncos head coach wouldn't want to work with Cleveland chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta. It appears what's fact and what's fiction will be sorted out in the days to come.
Until then, it appears Cleveland will just have to hope that McDaniels remains on the market until Friday.