Bob Stoops on Browns rumor: ‘Right now not something I’ll pursue’

Addressing a report that he could “have the inside track” to be the next Cleveland Browns head coach, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops on Friday denied having interest in the job. Stoops was making an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show.

Stoops just completed his 15th year at OU by leading the Sooners with a 45-31 upset over No. 3 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. He hasn’t served as a head coach anywhere else, and he’s guided Oklahoma to a 160-39 overall record, eight conference titles, nine BCS bowl appearances and one national championship in 2000. Despite his denial of interest in the Browns job, the NFL Network recently reported that Stoops would entertain the idea of moving on to the NFL.

Dawgs by Nature’s Chris Pokorny isn’t too confident the OU head coach will make his way to Cleveland.

How Softli of all people would stumble upon this rumor is beyond me, so take it with a grain of salt. Teams have been attempting to lure Stoops away from Oklahoma for years, too, so it’s hard to believe the Browns’ vacancy would be very interesting to him.

The Browns are looking for a new head coach after firing Rob Chudzinski at the conclusion of a disappointing 4-12 season, his first with the team. It isn’t the first time Cleveland has been linked to a college coach; the Browns are also reportedly interested in Auburn’s Gus Malzahn and Vanderbilt’s James Franklin.

• Bowl season TV schedule, with scores and recaps along the way

• How champions are built: FSU vs. Auburn recruiting

• GIF: Oklahoma players break ESPN set during celebration

• College football news | Seven elite recruits committed Thursday

• Long CFB reads | The death of a college football player