The Cleveland Browns completed their second interview in the head coaching process on Wednesday when they interviewed former Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell.
Caldwell and Williams are the only two candidates to interview with Mike McCarthy, Dan Campbell and Brian Flores on tap for the next three days according to multiple reports.
The 63-year-old head coach has been out of the NFL for the last year after being fired by the Detroit Lions after a 36-28 record over four seasons including two playoff appearances.
He is currently employed by the XFL as a consultant for the football operations of the reincarnated football league run by WWE chairman Vince McMahon.
By interviewing Caldwell, the Browns have obliged the Rooney Rule which is in place for the 32 NFL franchises to interview a minority candidate before hiring either a head coach or football executive.
Caldwell spent three seasons as the Colts head coach from 2009 to 2011 succeeding Tony Dungy who retired following the 2008 season.
In his first year as head coach, the Colts went 14-2 and represented the AFC in Super Bowl 45 where they lost to the New Orleans Saints 31-17.
The Colts made it to the playoffs in 2010 with a 10-6 record but were eliminated in the wild card round by the New York Jets 17-16.
2011 was a bad year for the Colts franchise. Peyton Manning was sidelined for the season after undergoing neck surgery and the Colts spiraled to an NFL worst 2-14 record. Following the season, Caldwell was fired.
He has a long history of coaching quarterbacks which he did for seven years at Penn State and ten seasons in the NFL between Tampa Bay, Indianapolis and Baltimore.
Caldwell also has been an offensive coordinator when he called plays for the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 and 2013, winning the Super Bowl in 2012 behind Joe Flacco’s historic playoff run.
I wouldn’t say he’s a serious candidate for the head coaching position but he could be a potential offensive coordinator or quarterback coach for another of the candidates and this was just the Browns A) obliging to the Rooney Rule and B) getting a potential working relationship started with Caldwell for perhaps a future spot on a coaching staff.
[…] again, much like Jim Caldwell who the team interviewed on Wednesday, I’m not so sure Stefanski is a legit head coaching candidate but could be […]
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