It didn’t work out between the Browns and Doug Marrone three years ago, but they’re giving it another try.
The team confirmed it interviewed Marrone on Thursday for the head-coaching vacancy created when owner Jimmy Haslam fired Mike Pettine after Sunday’s season finale. Pettine went 10-22 in two seasons and lost his job on Sunday along with General Manager Ray Farmer.
Haslam and a previous Browns regime led by former CEO Joe Banner interviewed Marrone for the same position in 2013, when he was looking to leave Syracuse University after compiling a record of 25-25 in four seasons as its head coach. But with the Browns wrapped up in the Chip Kelly sweepstakes that the Philadelphia Eagles eventually won, Marrone took a head-coaching job with the Buffalo Bills.
The Browns hired Rob Chudzinski four days later and fired him after going 4-12 during his first season on the job.
Marrone went 6-10 during his first season with the Bills while Pettine served as his defensive coordinator, then 9-7 the following year when Pettine took command of the Browns. It was the Bills’ first winning season in a decade, but the sale of the team in the fall allowed Marrone to use an opt-out clause in his four-year contract, and he exercised it three days after the 2014 season ended.
Terry and Kim Pegula struck a deal to buy the Bills in September 2014 after the previous owner, Ralph Wilson, died six months earlier.
When ESPN.com profiled Marrone in October, he declined to explain why he chose to flee Buffalo.
But the Buffalo News reported Marrone, 51, left the Bills partly because of uncertainty about whom the Pegulas would hire to oversee their football operations. A strained relationship with the Buffalo media also played a role, according to the report, because he was said to be upset with what he considered constant criticism and a lack of support. There were also multiple reports about friction developing between Marrone and Bills General Manager Doug Whaley.
Former players react
Apparently, Marrone rubbed some Bills players the wrong way, too.
Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus told NFL Network’s Michael Silver “we celebrated a little harder” when Marrone chose to opt out of his deal on New Year’s Eve. Dareus said Marrone seemed “miserable” during his tenure, and the mood around him was tense because he was “anal” and “micromanaged” players.
Asked for examples, Dareus told Silver, “What difference does it make if I don’t have team-issued socks for practice, and what does putting on a sweater in a cold meeting room have to do with winning?”
Marrone left Buffalo with $4 million due to him in 2015 and a 15-17 record. He reportedly interviewed last year for the head-coaching jobs of the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears, but striking out led him to spend this season as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Work history
A former NFL offensive lineman from the Bronx, Marrone served as the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints from 2006-08. The Saints ranked first in total offense (410.7 yards per game) in 2008, fourth (361.2) in 2007 and first (391.5) in 2006. He coached the Jets’ offensive line from 2002-05.
Before securing his first coaching job in the NFL, Marrone coached at several colleges, including Haslam’s favorite one. He was the tight ends and tackles coach at the University of Tennessee in 2001.
Marrone will reportedly interview with the Miami Dolphins on Friday.
Of the eight known candidates who have either interviewed with the Browns or are scheduled to do so, Marrone and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson are the only ones with previous experience as an NFL head coach.
Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott is reportedly set to meet with the Browns on Sunday after his interview had originally been scheduled for Thursday. Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman told Charlotte reporters on Thursday he has spoken to teams about McDermott, but only the Browns have an interview scheduled with him.
The Browns confirmed they started interviews Wednesday with Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase, followed by Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
According to reports, they’re scheduled to interview Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Jerome Henderson on Friday, New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia sometime this week and Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther on Sunday along with Jackson.
Former Lions coach Jim Schwartz and Kelly have also been linked to the job.
Gase is believed to be high on the Browns’ wish list, but there is competition for him like nearly all of the candidates linked to the team. NFL Network reported the Dolphins made a strong push for Gase while interviewing him Friday. He interviewed with the Eagles on Tuesday, and he’s reportedly scheduled to meet with the New York Giants on Friday.
Extra point
• The Browns signed offensive linemen Conor Boffeli and Erle Ladson to the reserve/futures list. They were on the practice squad.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.