CBS Sports insider Aditi Kinkhabwala pushed back on a circulating rumor, saying no coaching candidate was asked to write an essay. She described the process as involving a five-question questionnaire to help streamline interviews and ensure alignment among ownership, the GM, and the head coach.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, however, described the Browns’ process as unusually data-driven, noting reports of questionnaires, an essay, and even homework assignments between interview rounds. His characterization highlighted how the team screens candidates beyond standard interviews.
Cleveland’s three remaining finalists are Jim Schwartz, Nate Scheelhaase, and Todd Monken (the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator). Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot reported that the team had “three finalists” and was continuing to refine details with a decision possibly imminent.
Cabot’s update suggested the Browns had intensified work on those three candidates and could announce a choice “tonight” or in the near term, signaling a close completion of the lengthy search.
The Browns have emphasized a thorough, coordinated approach to hiring, aiming to align ownership, the GM, and the head coach to build the organization in a cohesive way. Kinkhabwala’s take reinforced the notion that the process is deliberate and targeted toward a right fit.
As the search progresses toward a resolution, the core question remains who will lead Cleveland’s next chapter, with the organization “very close” to finalizing its decision on a head coach.
