– McDermott was fired by the Bills after 9 seasons, coming off a 33-30 playoff loss to the Broncos.
– He had previously interviewed for the Browns’ job in 2016 before the Haslam era landed Hue Jackson.
– In Buffalo, McDermott helped rebuild a failing franchise: Bills records included 98-50 overall, 5 AFC East titles, and multiple playoff appearances, but no Super Bowl run. Bills owner Terry Pegula praised his impact.
– The Browns are in a full head-coach search: Kevin Stefanski was fired; as of the report, they’d interviewed at least eight known candidates (including Grant Udinski, Jesse Minter, Nate Scheelhaase, Todd Monken, Aden Durde, Dan Pitcher, Mike McDaniel, plus coordinators Tommy Rees and Jim Schwartz) and planned second interviews.
– Could the Browns circle back to McDermott? The article suggests yes as a real possibility: McDermott has expressed a desire to continue coaching, and with seven NFL vacancies (not including the Bills), he’s a strong candidate on the market. Cleveland’s prior contact in 2016 could make them more inclined to gauge his interest again.
– However, it’s not guaranteed. The Browns are exploring many options, and McDermott’s availability, fit with the roster, and competition from other candidates would all factor in.
