CLEVELAND, Ohio — If the Browns thought they had the best-kept secret on their head coach candidate list in Grant Udinski, the Jaguar is out of the bag.
While Udinski, the Jaguars offensive coordinator, is preparing for his second interview with the Browns on Friday at team headquarters in Berea, the Bills have requested an initial head coach interview with him to possibly replace Sean McDermott, who was fired on Monday.
It’s only the second head coach request for Udinski, who turned 30 on Jan. 12 and would be the youngest coach ever hired in the NFL, beating out Rams coach Sean McVay, who was hired in 2017 at the age of 30 and 353 days.
Meanwhile, the Browns are doing their diligence on McDermott, whom they interviewed in 2016 for their head coach vacancy, but it remains to be seen if it will get to the interview stage.
Udinski, who spent two seasons as an offensive assistant in Minnesota under Kevin O’Connell and two years under Matt Rhule with the Panthers before that, has served only one season as an NFL offensive coordinator, last season when head coach Liam Coen called plays.
But Udinski has quickly gained a reputation as one of the rising stars in the game, and the Browns just might take a chance on him even though he might be a year or two away from being ready for the head chair.
The feeling is that he’ll grow into the job with his high football acumen, tremendous leadership skills and commanding presence. Those who know him say he’s wise beyond his years and doesn’t track as someone who was in his twenties less than two weeks ago.
Udinski is one of five current Browns finalists whom they’re interviewing for a second time this week and next. The others are their own defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Udinski, and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
Schwartz got the initial second meeting on Monday, and Monken went Tuesday. Mike McDaniel was supposed to be in town Wednesday, but withdrew to likely become Chargers offensive coordinator. Minter, who’s highly sought-after this cycle, is scheduled for Thursday, and Udinski is set for Friday. Scheelhaase has to wait until Monday because the Rams are facing the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
The Browns must also interview a second external minority or female candidate in person to satisfy the Rooney Rule. McDaniel would’ve counted as one, and Scheelhaase is the other.
The Bills, meanwhile have added Udinski to their growing list of head coach candidates, which includes their own offensive coordinator Joe Brady, their former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Commanders running backs coach Anthony Lynn and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. The latter three were all Browns offensive assistants at one time.
Daboll, former head coach of the Giants, served as Josh Allen’s offensive coordinator in Buffalo for the first four seasons, and is credited with his tremendous development as a one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL.
But Udinski excels in his interviews and will undoubtedly capture the Bills’ fancy, like he has the Browns’.
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