Browns coaching search: Rob Chudzinski is the choice

Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski said in a press conference today that they are excited about Horton joining the team, as well as new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

Working together in 2009 and 2010, Rob Chudzinski was serving as Turner’s assistant head coach and tight end coach. During that time, the San Diego Chargers boasted the NFL’s top ranked offense in 2010. According to CBS Radio’s Keith Britton, Norv Turner is expected to join Chudzinski’s coaching staff, but there is no report on what capacity.

Fired this off-season, Norv Turner had been the San Diego Chargers’ head coach from 2007-12. Several teams were rumored to be interested in him, and his near-30 years of NFL coaching experience -- but ultimately it appears the Browns moved quickly to wrap up two of the league’s top offensive minds.

Known for his strong belief in the tight end position and a passion for read-option offenses, Chudzinski boasts experience from three different teams and assisting a successful college program at Miami.

Jon Gruden was once again mentioned, as the Browns are interested, but that scenario doesn’t seem to have much traction. So don’t get your hopes up if you live in Cleveland.

The Cardinals won the NFC West for a second-straight time in 2006 and looked to be a rising power in the conference as they advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs. That was the last time Whisenhunt with finish with a winning record at Arizona, as he capped his tenure off with just 18 wins over the next three seasons.

The Browns are trying to replace former head coach Pat Shurmur, who was fired Dec. 31. On the same day, the team fired general manager Tom Heckert.

Shurmur coached the Browns for just two seasons. He led Cleveland to a 4-12 record in 2011 and improved by just one game in 2012, going 5-11.

The Browns were unable to land Chip Kelly, who decided to stay at Oregon, but have continued their aggressive search for a new coach. The team also interviewed Bill O’Brien and Doug Marrone, according to Adam Schefter.

Trestman joins Bruce Arians as the lead candidates for the Browns job. Cleveland’s new owner, Jimmy Haslam, is also searching for a new general manager.

Trestman spent 1989 as the Browns offensive coordinator. He was an assistant coach in the NFL from 1985 to 2004 but has been head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League since 2008. Trestman has also been rumored to be a candidate for the Chicago Bears’ opening.

While Arians and Trestman will interview, there is also speculation that Alabama coach Nick Saban or former NFL coach Jon Gruden could also be candidates. After pursuing other college coaches, some are speculating the Browns could make a run at Saban, with one source even citing Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s ability to recruit.

The Browns are looking to replace Pat Shurmur, who was one of seven NFL coaches fired Monday.

O’Brien spent this year coaching the Nittany Lions in his first season at the helm. O’Brien replaced Joe Paterno, who had coached the team since 1966. Despite starting the season 0-2, Penn State finished the year with an 8-4 record under the leadership of the Massachusetts native.

After wrapping up Marrone’s visit with the organization on Thursday, renowned Oregon coach Chip Kelly will fly in for his official interview with the Browns on Friday. Kelly represents arguably the biggest name on Cleveland’s radar to schedule an interview thus far, and he could represent the exact type of top-end hire for which team CEO Joe Banner has been clamoring. Marrone and Kelly are each firmly in the mix for both the Cleveland and Buffalo jobs, but only time will tell if the budding Syracuse coach opts to return to the pro ranks.

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly will interview with the Cleveland Browns on Friday, according to an ESPN report. Kelly and the Ducks are in Arizona preparing for Thursday night’s Fiesta Bowl against Kansas State. Browns CEO Joe Banner was reportedly in Arizona this week to interview Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton, but also with an eye on a meeting with Kelly.

While meeting with the media in Arizona, Kelly deftly danced around questions about the speculation of his jump to the NFL. In a new wrinkle, it was reported by Ian Rapoport on Wednesday that Kelly “would NOT require total control of football ops to take an NFL job.”

Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone could be headed back to the NFL as he is scheduled to interview for the head coaching vacancies with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Marrone, who just finished his fourth season with Syracuse, will interview with Cleveland this week. He has plenty of NFL experience, including two seasons as the New Orleans Saints’ offensive coordinator. Marrone also worked as the New York Jets’ offensive line coach for three seasons.

The Bills, Browns and Cardinals all fired their head coaches Monday, releasing Chan Gailey, Pat Shurmur and Ken Whisenhunt, respectively.

Horton, 52, was named defensive coordinator for the Cardinals Feb. 9, 2011. This season, Arizona ranked 12th in the NFL, allowing 337.8 yards per game. Last year, the Cardinals gave up 355.1 yards per contest, which tied for 18th in the league.

The Browns fired head coach Pat Shurmur early Monday, a move that was expected for several weeks. The speculation over his replacement has been ongoing throughout the second half of the season, and several more names emerged as candidates Monday. Horton joins Dirk Koetter and Aaron Kromer as three NFL assistant names that have been floated just hours after Shurmur’s removal.

New Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner met with the media on Monday and indicated that they will hire a coach before a new GM or personnel chief, who would replace Tom Heckert.

Haslam and Banner met with the media on Monday morning shortly after the firing announcements were made. With two prime spots open, Haslam made it clear that the team would look for a new coach before hiring a personnel candidate to replace Heckert. Haslam told the assembled press in Cleveland that they would “begin very quickly to look for a new head coach first” and focus on the pool of GM candidates second.

Heckert has had success finding key contributors through the Draft over the past two seasons but it was expected that he and the Browns would part ways, as Banner likely claims final full 53-man roster decision-making control. Today’s announcement that a coach will be the first person hired seems to add to the likelihood that the position once held by Heckert will be reduced in the team’s new org chart under Banner.

As expected, the Browns made it official early Monday morning and fired Pat Shurmur after two seasons in Cleveland. Both Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert were likely to be let go, with new owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner now running things and wanting to start fresh with their own people.

Kromer’s name has come up several times during coaching carousel season at both the NFL and college level. In an unenviable situation as interim coach this year, the Saints went 2-4 under his watch. Kromer is also an Ohio native.