{"id":41271,"date":"2026-01-08T14:49:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T14:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=41271"},"modified":"2026-01-08T14:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T14:49:45","slug":"breaking-browns-may-be-moving-toward-a-coaching-hire-fans-will-definitely-dread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=41271","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Browns may be moving toward a coaching hire fans will definitely dread"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cincinnati<\/p>\n

Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher | Icon Sportswire\/GettyImages<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cleveland Browns have reportedly submitted their first five interview requests of the 2026 NFL hiring cycle, and the latest is sure to capture fans\u2019 attention (in the worst way).<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Daniel Oyefusi reported Wednesday that, in addition to the Browns interviewing their own current coordinators, Tommy Rees and Jim Schwartz, they\u2019ve also submitted a request to the Cincinnati Bengals to speak with offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher for their head coach opening.<\/p>\n

Browns fans may not be super familiar with Pitcher, who\u2019s about to turn 39 and has been the Bengals OC for the past two seasons. Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor holds the playsheet on the sideline and calls the Bengals\u2019 offense, so Pitcher is one of the league\u2019s many coordinators who are more unknown to casual fans, working behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

Fans will obviously react accordingly, though. There have been some nightmare head coach hires with no prior play calling experience across the league in the not-so-distant past, such as Nathaniel Hackett, Jerod Mayo, and Joe Judge. The Browns also have a lot of development and roster work to do on the offensive side of the ball, which could be a daunting task for a young coach with only two years of coordinator experience at any level.<\/p>\n

Adding to the angst of Browns fans with Pitcher? He worked under general manager Andrew Berry with the Indianapolis Colts as a scout from 2014-15, and could soon become a more serious candidate than folks care to realize.<\/p>\n

\"Commentary:<\/p>\n

Dan Pitcher\u2019s connection to Browns\u2019 front office make him a legitimate HC contender<\/h2>\n

Pitcher offers a unique profile, with experience both in player operations and coaching. He broke into the NFL in 2012 as a scouting assistant with the Colts, and wound up spending four years with Berry in Indy.<\/p>\n

He transitioned into coaching as an offensive assistant in 2016, before getting promoted to QBs coach in 2020 \u2014 the same year the Bengals drafted Joe Burrow No. 1 overall. Cincinnati\u2019s had strong success under center ever since, from Burrow, to most recently Jake Browning and Joe Flacco.<\/p>\n

\n

I wouldn’t sleep on Pitcher as a candidate. He has some fans in Cleveland. https:\/\/t.co\/umBlj4U3vN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n