Browns head coaching search: 5th, possibly final, 2nd interview candidate revealed

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images

The weekend started with everyone around the NFL wondering when John Harbaugh would officially take the New York Giants job, a lot of questions in the head coaching carousel, and the Conference Championship participants up in the air. As early Sunday afternoon rolled around, Harbaugh had signed, Kevin Stefanski was headed to the Atlanta Falcons (likely with a few coaches from his Cleveland Browns past), and the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks had punched their tickets to the next round.

For Browns fans, wondering what was next with their team’s head coach search, a lot of unknowns became known through reports. We knew Saturday that Cleveland DC Jim Schwartz was getting a second interview, then Sunday brought us news of four other candidates joining that list. According to Mary Kay Cabot and Daryl Ruiter, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase is the fifth candidate who will get a second interview:

Both #Jaguars OC Grant Udinski and #Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase are set for HC 2nd interviews with the #Browns. As posted here yesterday, both are generating plenty of buzz with the #Browns. Scheelhaase's date will depend on if the #Rams win today: https://t.co/YwwobUkZe9

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 18, 2026

According to Ruiter, just five candidates remain for the position:

Talked today on the show about #Browns cutting head coach search down from 9 to 5 this week. The 5 still alive:
-DC Jim Schwartz
-Jaguars OC Grant Udinski
-Ravens OC Todd Monken
-Mike McDaniel
-Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) January 18, 2026

McDaniel and Scheelhaase would satisfy the Rooney Rule once both receive an in-person interview. That is required before a team is able to hire its new head coach. As Cabot notes, Scheelhaase’s availability for an in-person interview will depend on the results of the Rams matchup with the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

---

How do you feel about Scheelhaase as a candidate, especially compared to Udinski? Do you think the five names noted above are the only candidates remaining, or will the Browns head coach search add some names?

Share your Scheelhaase and head coach search thoughts in our comment section below

Continue reading...