As the Browns schedule interviews for their head-coaching vacancy, they’ve included two Battle of Ohio lieutenants, a lumberjack look-alike who’s so smart that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick claims he could build an airplane and fly it and a guy whose background is eerily similar to that of coach Mike Pettine.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam fired Pettine and General Manager Ray Farmer on Sunday.
Since then, seven planned interviews have been reported by multiple media outlets, four of which surfaced Tuesday.
Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott are the recent additions to the dance card.
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach-offense/offensive line coach Doug Marrone have previously reported interviews scheduled.
Former Lions coach Jim Schwartz and former Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly have also been linked to the job.
Austin and Gase are set to interview on Wednesday and Marrone on Thursday, according to reports.
Per NFL rules, the Browns would need to interview Patricia and McDermott before the conclusion of Sunday’s wild-card games because they work for playoff teams with byes.
The Bengals will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a wild-card game at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, so the Browns wouldn’t be able to interview Jackson or Guenther until next week.
Here’s a rundown of Jackson, Guenther, Patricia and McDermott:
• Jackson, 50, has been the offensive coordinator of the Bengals for two seasons. He held the same role with three other NFL teams. As a head coach, he guided the Oakland Raiders to a record of 8-8. The Bengals ranked 15th in total offense (358 yards per game) — 15th passing (245.2) and 13th rushing (112.8) — and seventh in scoring (26.2 points per game) this season.
• Guenther, 44, has been the defensive coordinator of the Bengals for two seasons. They ranked 11th in total defense (340.8 yards allowed per game) — 20th against the pass (248.5) and seventh against the run (92.3) — and second in points allowed (17.4 per game) this season. He was the head coach at Division III Ursinus College (1997-2000).
• Patricia, 41, has been the defensive coordinator of the Patriots for four seasons. They ranked ninth in total defense (339.4 yards allowed per game) — 17th against the pass (240.7) and ninth against the run (98.8) — and 10th in points allowed (19.7 per game) this season. Known for wearing a mountain-man beard, Patricia was an aeronautical engineering major at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he played on the offensive line. In November, Belichick told reporters, “This guy could probably build a plane and fly it. I mean, this guy’s smart, smart.”
• McDermott, 41, has been the defensive coordinator of the Panthers for five seasons. He held the same title with the Eagles for two years. Like Pettine, he’s a defensive expert who hails from the Philadelphia area and played safety in college (McDermott at William & Mary, Pettine at Virginia). The Panthers ranked sixth in total defense (322.9 yards allowed per game) — 11th against the pass (234.5) and fourth against the run (88.4) — and sixth in points allowed (19.3 per game) this season.
Receiving interest
The St. Louis Rams have requested permission to interview Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo for the same position, NFL Network reported.
The Browns ranked 25th in total offense (331.9 yards per game) — 21st in passing (236.4) and 22nd in rushing (95.6) — and 30th in scoring (17.4 points per game) this season, DeFilippo’s first as an NFL coordinator.
Roster moves
The Browns signed defensive backs Sean Baker and Tim Scott, offensive linemen Dan France and Garth Gerhart, tight end Connor Hamlett and defensive lineman Dylan Wynn to the reserve/futures list.