Was John Harbaugh and the Cleveland Browns just wishful thinking? The latest update in the Browns’ search for a new head coach suggests that.

After the franchise fired Kevin Stefanski for his 8-26 record, there were rumors that franchise owner Jimmy Haslam would let go of general manager Andrew Berry to accommodate Harbaugh. 

But Connor Hughes reports that coaching candidates have a “belief” that Harbaugh might end with either the Atlanta Falcons or the New York Giants. He reported that the Miami Dolphins are interested, too, but have decided on their new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, first. 

He reported that the Giants are “all-in” to make the deal with Harbaugh, “the No. 1 coach on their wish list.” The team’s management had conducted “a ton of preliminary research” on the veteran coach, hoping that their needs and his expertise would align.

He also claimed that the Falcons were “increasingly interested.”

On the flip side, things look bad for the Browns’ former coach. Hughes reported that once Hrabuagh has made his choice, the remaining teams will have to pick Stefanski.

“With the loser of those sweepstakes landing Kevin Stefanski,” he wrote. 

“The Miami Dolphins have Harbaugh interest, too, although they already made their general manager decision (Jon-Eric Sullivan). There could be additional vacancies opening after Wild Card Weekend,” he opined.

A Huge Blow To Any Offensive Strategies

The idea of Harbaugh joining the Browns brought relief to anybody tired of the shoddy offensive unit. The O-line has been criticized and called out several times this year. With 262.1 net passing yards per game, their overall offense ranks in the bottom third in the league.

Harbaugh is an offensive-minded coach. He elevated the Ravens and kept them steady for 18 seasons. With him, the team won over 193 games, including playoffs and the 2012 Lombardi Trophy. 

Browns’ experts and insiders were excited to see future developments, with many guessing what the locker room would look like.

Matt Verderame on 92.3 The Fan said that the Browns should go with Harbaugh and fulfill any demands he has. Even if they seem a little absurd, they might pay off well, given his track record.

“The obvious answer is Harbaugh. If I'm the Browns, I'm giving that guy what he wants. That includes, if he wants to be in charge of personnel decisions, then Andrew Berry can go find another job,” he stated.

But this new development seems to have crushed the possibilities of anything happening. 

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu