Nearly three full weeks into the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching search, there’s still a lot of guessing involved. However, they always knew it was going to be extensive. But recent moves on the Miami Dolphins’ former head coach Mike McDaniel’s part suggest that the search could extend even further.

“Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel now has withdrawn from the head coach searches in both Buffalo and Cleveland,” Adam Schefter wrote on X.

McDaniel was supposed to appear for his second interview with the Browns on Wednesday. However, he chose to step away. He first talked to the Browns earlier this month in an online meeting. But the Rooney Rule requires in-person interviews.

He was also supposed to fly to Florida to meet the Buffalo Bills’ owners, but he canceled that as well. Meanwhile, he remains a chosen offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers unless he lands a head coaching job elsewhere. He remains a strong candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders.

While it is not known what pushed the 42-year-old to walk away from the Browns, he is not the only one to decline an interview with them. Reportedly, multiple coaching candidates chose not to meet with them.

Jesse Minter also turned down the Browns’ opening and accepted a head coaching position with Baltimore. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula also declined to meet with Cleveland. Interestingly, their own OC, Tommy Rees, declined earlier this month for a second interview. While he had multiple offers in his hands to be a collegiate head coach, he chose to go with Stefanski as his OC in Baltimore.

That, in a way, sends signals to other candidates about something not being in place with the Browns. Moreover, with their quarterback room still a mess, it is understandable why signing with them would be a gamble for the coaches. But that doesn’t mean the team doesn’t have any other options.

Considering that the Browns would want to rebuild their offense, one thought that has lingered on everyone’s minds is that they might hire a young, offensive-minded head coach. With that, the Browns are left with two primary candidates:

Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and Rams assistant Nate Scheelhaase. Scheelhaase cannot interview yet due to playoff restrictions. If they want to go the other way and maintain their defensive identity, they also have defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was the team’s personnel scout from 1993 to 1995.

As their head coaching search continues, Cleveland is fast-approaching a time to make other decisions on the roster. Amid the ongoing troubles, their current primary quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, received some bad news about his future.

Shedeur Sanders receives concerning team update

Shedeur Sanders currently stands to be a part of the biggest question facing the Cleveland Browns heading into the 2026 season, as always: who will lead the team at quarterback?

A new team update recently suggested that his path to the starting job may not be as clear as it once seemed. The team is exploring every option, and the hunt includes keeping veteran Deshaun Watson involved. They are also looking to test Dillon Gabriel, while seriously studying the 2026 NFL Draft. They have two first-round picks amid multiple early picks.

This puts his starter role in jeopardy, further raising concern about how committed the Browns truly are to him.

Top Stories

Prayers Pour In as Cowboys Legend Scott Laidlaw Passes Away at 72

Natural Disaster Strikes San Francisco Just Hours After Sam Darnold, Drake Maye & Co. Arrives for Super Bowl LX

Amid Patrick Mahomes’ Injury Struggle, Saints QB Officially Announces Signing For Chiefs

Sean McVay Shares Update on Matthew Stafford’s Retirement After Sending Message to Rams QB

NFL Launches Investigation on Giants Owner Mentioned In Epstein Files Amid Russell Wilson Links

That concern grew after draft analyst Tony Pauline introduced another quarterback name tied to Cleveland, Trinidad Chambliss. Pauline praised Chambliss for his strong college play and even compared his potential to Browns legend Bernie Kosar. With the Browns holding the No. 6 overall pick and another first-round selection at No. 24, drafting a quarterback also remains a realistic option.

The update only says one thing about Sanders: nothing is guaranteed.

Cleveland’s continued interest in the draft signals that Sanders still has a lot to prove. Whether he becomes the long-term answer or gets pushed aside will depend on how he performs and how the Browns choose to use their valuable draft capital. That, though, is a problem for another day. Before that, they need to fix the franchise from the top with a new head coach.