The search for a Browns HC has taken a sudden turn. While past reports stated that McDaniel was the presumed favorite, a recent interview seems to have turned the tide.

After having sacked Stefanski on January 5th of this year, the Cleveland Browns have interviewed 9 candidates for their head coaching job.

Last week, Insiders were leaning towards the former Dolphins HC as the next head coach of the Browns, but things have changed this week. NFL insider Marvin Parsells has out forward another name ahead of McDaniel.

"The #Browns were reportedly "blown away" while speaking with #Jaguars OC Grant Udinski today via zoom. One league source shared that the meeting went the full allotted 3 hours. He is expected to be in Berea on Monday for an in-person interview."

Udinski is one of the latest candidates to have given an interview with the Browns (January 17th). The best thing about the Jaguars' OC is that he can help the Browns in the exact area they are worse at: offense.

In his first season, Jacksonville finished 6th in scoring offense (27.9 points per game) and 11th in total offense (337.4 yards per game). Trevor Lawrence ended the season with 29 passing TDs (5th highest) and 9 rushing TDs (2nd highest by a QB).

He was also the Assistant Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Quarterbacks Coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. That season, Vikings' QB Sam Darnold finished with a passer rating of 102.5 with 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 17 games.

Grant Udinski also helped the Vikings finish top 10 in passing yards per game (6th; 237.8) and points per game(9th; 25.4). With him, Minnesota scored 432 total points last season, its third-highest total in team history. But he is not the only one the Browns might prefer over McDaniel.

Jim Schwartz gets a second interview ahead of Mike McDaniel

The Browns first interviewed Jim Schwartz on January 9th, and now they have interviewed him for the second time as well. This is also interesting because the Browns' DC has also interviewed with divisional rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, for the head coach job.

He sure is a great coach, having played a key role in the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LII (2018)as their defensive coordinator. In his over 25 years of NFL coaching experience, he has served the Titans, Bills, Eagles, and Browns as DC. He was even the Lions' head coach.

Jim Schwartz is the man who also revolutionized the Browns' defense. With him, the Browns finished the 2025 season ranking fourth in total defense, giving up 283.6 yards per game. They created the record for most sacks in franchise history and the third most in the NFL (25).

Under him, the team has given up the fewest yards per game (298.6) in the NFL over the past three seasons. Meanwhile, reports have also favored McDaniel.

Who do you think will be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns? Tell us in the comments

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu