Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase receives his second interview with the Browns on Monday in Los Angeles. He could be named their next head coach Monday night or Tuesday.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The Browns are in the final stage of their coaching search and could offer the job as early as Monday or Tuesday.
Owner Jimmy Haslam and GM Andrew Berry are in Los Angeles to conduct their second interview on Monday with Sean McVay-protégé Nate Scheelhaase, the youthful pass game coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams were eliminated from the post-season by the Seattle Seahawks, 31-27, in the NFC Championship Game.
If Scheelhaase earns the Browns’ affection, they could offer him the job. Scheelhaase will be the second person of color to receive an in-person interview with the Browns, making them compliant with the NFL's Rooney Rule.
The Browns had an 11th-hour interview with Anthony Lynn, Washington Commanders run game coordinator and running backs coach, on Saturday night.
Scheelhaase went into the weekend as a co-favorite with Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski to become the sixth full-time head coach in Haslam’s 13 years as Browns owner. Udinski received his second interview in Berea on Friday. But the fact the Browns jetted to Los Angeles to meet Scheelhaase was an indication they liked him a lot.
Other candidates are Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and Washington Commanders run game coordinator and running backs coach Anthony Lynn
Lynn, who coached Browns running backs under Romeo Crennell in 2007-08, was head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-20. The Chargers were 34-32 under Lynn, including a 1-1 record in post-season. The Chargers' GM at the time was Tom Telesco, who reportedly has assisted Berry in this coaching search as a consultant.
Lynn was the first person of color to receive an in-person interview with the Browns.
Udinksi, 30, and Scheelhaase, 35, fit the profile of young, up-and-coming, offensive-minded coach preferred by Berry, 38, who is seeking a new “thought partner” to succeed departed coach Kevin Stefanski.
Udinski or Scheelhaase each would be the youngest coach in the NFL this season, to go along with Berry, the second-youngest GM.
Udinski would be the youngest coach in NFL history.
Schwartz, 59, Monken, 59, and Lynn, 57, do not fit Berry’s profile.
Schwartz, however, is expected to stay on as defensive coordinator if Udinski or Scheelhaase are Haslam’s coaching choice.
It’s possible, too, that Lynn would be a candidate for offensive coordinator, although he has no known past association with Udinski or Scheelhaase.