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Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is still looking for his next head coach.
The Cleveland Browns have officially wrapped up their second interview with Nate Scheelhaase.
The Browns flew to Los Angeles to meet with Scheelhaase a day after his Los Angeles Rams were bounced from the postseason following a 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game. His first interview was held virtually on Jan. 16. He is the fourth candidate the Browns conducted a second-round interview with as part of the search.
The team’s second chat with Scheelhaase was lengthy. Per Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, Scheelhaase’s interview began early Monday morning and lasted until about 3:30 p.m. L.A. time. Cleveland announced the interview was complete later on Monday.
“We have completed a second head coach interview with Nate Scheelhaase,” the post from the Browns said.
Scheelhaase joined the Rams as an offensive assistant/pass game specialist in 2024 before being promoted to pass game coordinator in 2025, helping oversee a passing attack that ranked 10th in the NFL in 2024 and first in 2025.
Prior to his time with the Rams, Scheelhaase spent six seasons at Iowa State in multiple offensive roles, including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022. He helped the Cyclones reach five bowl games with four AP Top 25 starts and five winning seasons. He began his college coaching career at Illinois (2015-17), serving as running backs coach in 2015 and as an offensive analyst from 2016-17. Scheelhaase played quarterback for Illinois in college from 2010-13.
Browns Have Competition for Nate Scheelhaase
During Scheelhaase’s interview with the Browns, news broke that the Buffalo Bills are also interested in speaking with him about their head coaching vacancy. Scheelhaase is expected to interview with Buffalo on Monday night.
Cleveland’s search has already been complicated by multiple candidates withdrawing from the process. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter both opted out of second interviews, while Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski also decided not to continue consideration for the job.
As the field narrows, Scheelhaase remains the favorite, but he’s far from the only option on the board. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken are still under consideration and are currently the other finalists in the process.
“If the Browns lose out on Scheelhaase, 35, they still have defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken poised to take the job,” Cabot said. “A league source told cleveland.com that Monken was still very much in the mix along with Schwartz and Scheelhaase even though he’s mostly flown under the radar.”
The Browns also completed an in-person interview with Anthony Lynn, though he does not appear to be a serious candidate. Lynn’s interview did, however, allow Cleveland to satisfy the NFL’s Rooney Rule requirement.
Browns Interview Process Draws Criticism
The Browns have been conducting one of the league’s most extensive head coaching searches, with reports indicating candidates have been asked to complete a personality test and even write an essay as part of the evaluation process. But Cleveland’s process hasn’t just been thorough — it may also be limiting.
The Browns have also been public about their desire to keep Schwartz in the fold, even if he isn’t hired as head coach. And that stance could be quietly turning off certain candidates, who may view it as a built-in constraint on their ability to build a staff.
“I think there are some candidates who the Browns showed some interest in through backchannels, but it wasn’t reciprocated. They have spoken, very publicly, about wanting to keep Jim Schwartz,” ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi said on 92.3 The Fan. “I think in a way you kind of handicap yourself.”
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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