The search is officially on for the Cleveland Browns to identify their next head coach. After a 5-12 season in 2025, the franchise parted ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski after serving six years in the role. 

As executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry remains, he's now tasked with overseeing Cleveland's search for a new head coach. As Berry explained in the aftermath of Stefanski's dismissal, his focus is "on identifying and finding the leader and partner to bring along this young team, as well as the young players that we're going to add in the next several months." 

There are a number of directions this could obviously go. The Browns could look to replace Stefanski's with another well respected offensive mind, who can transform the offense from one of the worst in football and finally find a franchise QB. 

On the other hand, they could lean into what they do best and hire a defensive-minded coach, who will already be set up for success with one of the game's best units. There are also likely to be both internal and external options considered as this process plays out over the next few weeks. 

Here are some important notes about the recently tweaked hiring cycle rules across the NFL

- Teams can make interview requests with potential coaching candidates starting the week of Jan. 5, and teams can interview candidates on teams who aren't playing in the wild-card round beginning Tuesday (in the case of the four teams playing Saturday night) and Wednesday (for everyone else playing Sunday).

- For the two playoff teams on a bye this week, their assistants can hold virtual interviews this week

- Any interviews with currently employed coaches can only be virtual up until Jan. 19, except for candidates who aren't currently employed (so for example, Kevin Stefanski can interview in person because he's no longer employed)

- In-person interviews can officially begin for employed coaches on Jan. 19, except for coaches on team's still playing for a conference championship, while second in-person interviews can't take place until Jan. 26, which is also when coaches on those respective playoff teams can also interview. 

- Coaches on the Super Bowl teams are allowed to be interviewed through Feb. 1 but are forbidden from talking to other teams after that until Feb. 9, the day after the Super Bowl

- Teams must fulfill the Rooney Rule by interviewing at least two in-person interview with at least two external diverse — minority and/or female — candidates for any GM or head coaching position

Keep track of every candidate the Browns are linked to with our official Browns head coach candidate tracker: 

INTERVIEWS REQUESTED

Todd Monken, Jan. 6, 2026: The Browns requested to interview Baltimore Ravens OC Todd 'Monken. The 59-year-old spent time in Cleveland as the offensive coordinator on Freddie Kitchens' staff in 2019. He joined John Harbaugh's staff in 2023 and helped turn the Ravens offense into one of the best in football. His unit ranked top 5 in points per game in 2023 and 2024. This year it was just outside the top 10, averaging 24.9 points per game. 

Aden Durde, Jan. 6, 2026: Cleveland requested to interview Seahawks DC Aden Durde, while Seattle sits on a bye week in the first round of the playoffs. Durde has risen through the ranks over the last decade, getting his start with the Dallas Cowboys as a coaching intern from 2014-15. He's spent the last two seasons as the Seahawks DC. His unit was just outside the top 10 in total EPA in 2024 and ranks second this season. 

CONFIRMED INTERVIEWS

Tommy Rees, Jan. 8, 2026: Reports indicate that the Browns will interview current OC Tommy Rees for their vacant head coach role. Rees is a hot commodity in coaching circles both at the college level and the NFL, and nearly got the UNC job last offseason, before the school hired Bill Belichick. Rees joined Stefanski's staff in 2023 as a TE coach, but was promoted to OC this past season. He took over the play-calling from Stefanski in Week 10. 

Jim Schwartz, Jan. 8, 2026: The Browns other internal candidate, and one who received several endorsements from players in the locker room, Schwartz is also expected to interview for the job during the first week of the hiring cycle. Schwartz has previous head coach experience after spending five years with the Detroit Lions from 2009-2013. On Monday, GM Andrew Berry stated that Schwartz had "certainly earned the right for consideration." In his three years in Cleveland, Schwartz has transformed its defense into one of the best in football.