The Cleveland Browns may end up interviewing north of a dozen candidates to replace recently fired head coach Kevin Stefanski, but one NFL insider believes they have already spoken with the next leader of the franchise.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel met with the Browns on Monday, January 12. The next day, ESPN’s Dan Graziano predicted McDaniel will eventually prove the team’s choice for 2026 and beyond.
“All of the intel we have on this one says the Browns are looking for an offensive-minded head coach who won’t mind keeping Jim Schwartz as the defensive coordinator,” Graziano wrote.
“Cleveland’s perpetually challenging quarterback situation could make this job a tough sell, but McDaniel is quirky, creative and confident,” Graziano continued. “And he had success in a challenging QB situation during his first two seasons in Miami. It’s not tough to imagine the Browns’ front office wanting to tap into McDaniels’ ideas about how to design and run an offense.”
The Browns are still in the running for John Harbaugh and could set a meeting with him later this week or the next.
However, Graziano believes Harbaugh will ultimately end up with the Atlanta Falcons, the first team to land an official interview with the former Baltimore Ravens head coach who is going to be picky in terms of the teams he talks to and ultimately the franchise he chooses to lead.
Mike McDaniel Sensible Candidate as Browns Head for Offensive Rebuild
GettyFormer Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
McDaniel lost his job with the Dolphins less than one week ago after four years at the helm of that organization. He went 35-33 over that span and earned two trips to the playoffs in his first two seasons, both of which resulted in opening-game losses in cold-weather climates (Buffalo and Kansas City).
The Browns are going to rebuild the offense from the ground up, as overhauls to the offensive line and wide receiver groups are likely.
The quarterback situation is also tricky, with Deshaun Watson entering the final year of his contract, while Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel each head to Year 2 after neither was particularly consistent or in any ways overwhelming across multi-game runs as QB1 in 2025.
Cleveland could look to free agency or the trade market for a new solution under center, as their No. 6 pick in the upcoming draft probably won’t get them a signal-caller prepared to make an impact on Day 1.
Quinshon Judkins Can Offer Mike McDaniel Intriguing Building Block for Browns’ Run Game
GettyCleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins.
McDaniel is one of the better run-game designers in the league, which is why ESPN’s Mina Kimes floated him as the best possible option for the Philadelphia Eagles if they decide to move on from offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after just one season in that job.
“You bring in a new offensive coordinator, you pray that Mike McDaniel gets fired,” Kimes said on her podcast in early December. “The [Dolphins’] run game is absolutely cooking.”
The Browns drafted running back Quinshon Judkins with the No. 36 overall pick last year. He put up 827 rushing yards and seven TDs along with 26 receptions for 171 yards across 14 games played before a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle ended his rookie year.
But Judkins, 22 years old, should be back healthy in plenty of time for Year 2. Meanwhile, the Browns also hit on tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in the third round, so Cleveland has some young talent at the skill positions to entice McDaniel — assuming he needs any incentive.
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