The Cleveland Browns are reportedly eying Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to become the team's next head coach. Despite being the only NFL team without a coach, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam does not intend to rush in his search for a coach.
The list of available coaches continues to shrink. Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer became the latest new coach hiring when the Minnesota Vikings signed him on Wednesday. Out of the limited number of promising assistant coaches still remaining, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Browns have their eye on two assistants in particular: Gase and Quinn.
Gase, 35, enjoyed a record-breaking season in his first year as the Broncos' offensive coordinator. Prior to his promotion, Gase served as the Broncos' wide receivers coach (2009-10) and the Broncos' quarterbacks coach (2011-12).
While his work with quarterback Peyton Manning has garnered attention from the Browns' front office, it's believed Gase may choose to stay in Denver and get another year of experience under his belt.
"The feeling in league circles is that Bob LaMonte, the agent for Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, might want to wait a year before placing his 35-year-old client in a head coaching position," Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer wrote on Thursday. "...LaMonte is fairly certain that Gase will have multiple head coaching offers next season, with several attractive options. He'll also have some leverage if Gase receives multiple offers."
Cabot also noted two of LaMonte's clients - Broncos director of pro personnel Tom Heckert and Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur - were fired by Cleveland, and LaMonte doesn't believe Cleveland's front office would give Gase the opportunity to grow into the job.
Quinn, another first-year NFL coordinator, is also on the Browns' list. Cleveland can interview Quinn after the Seahawks playoff game on Sunday and again before the Super Bowl, if the Seahawks advance.
"Word around the league is that the Browns were impressed with Quinn, 43, right from the start and still have him on their radar," wrote Cabot.
Although the Browns are the only remaining team without a head coach in place, Haslam told fans on Wednesday in an open letter that the team is taking their time to find the right coach.
"We have purposefully been very methodical in our approach," Haslam wrote in the letter, via ESPN. "We believe it is very important to stay disciplined to this process and to interview all of the candidates on our list."
