Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski backed out of consideration for the Browns' coach job, according to reports on Monday.
The Cleveland Browns will continue their search for a new head coach this week, but they will do so without one candidate who had reportedly emerged as a favored contender for the opening.
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski withdrew from consideration for the Browns job, ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Monday.
Brought to Jacksonville last February, after Liam Coen took over as coach for the Jaguars, Grant Udinski, 30, has been linked to multiple head-coaching searches by NFL teams this offseason. Reports on Monday said the Jags' offensive coordinator has agreed to a new contract to stay in Jacksonville through 2026. (Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)Both also reported the Jaguars have signed Udinski to a new contract that will increase his pay for the 2026 season.
Udinski reportedly remains in the hunt for the Buffalo Bills' job, vacated when the Bills fired coach Sean McDermott following the team's second-round playoff loss. The 30-year-old Udinski, who met with the Bills on Sunday, would be the youngest head coach in NFL history if hired.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, have made several changes to their coaching staff -- beefing up on both offense and defense. On Sunday, veteran offensive assistant Brian Picucci signed on as the Jags' new run game coordinator, leaving his position in Tampa as the Buccaneers' offensive line coach. Jags coach Liam Coen and Picucci had worked together numerous times going back as far as 2005 at UMass, where Coen was a four-year starter at quarterback for an offense developed and coached by Picucci. Picucci also worked under Coen at Kentucky and followed him to Tampa Bay, where Coen served as offensive coordinator for one year before taking over in Jacksonville.
The Jags recently lost assistant offensive line coach and run-game specialist Keli'i Kekuewa, who was hired away by Stanford, where he'll focus on the offensive line for the Cardinal.
On defense, the Jaguars hired Mathieu Araujo away from the Miami Dolphins, after letting go secondary coach Ron Milus on Jan. 16. The Dolphins' cornerbacks coach, Araujo is reportedly going to oversee the Jags' secondary.
Araujo had been with the Dolphins since 2022, first as an assistant defensive backs coach, then as the cornerbacks coach, starting in 2024. Araujo's tenure overlapped with the years Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile spent in Miami as linebackers coach.
Two more experienced coaches remain in contention for the Browns job as the team continues it search to replace Kevin Stefanski, who was let go Jan. 5 after Cleveland finished the season 5-12. In addition to meeting with Udinski on Friday, the Browns have completed first- and second-round interviews with their own defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, and with Todd Monken, offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens under ousted coach John Harbaugh, who has since signed on as coach for the New York Giants.
Udinski's withdrawal from consideration follows a pattern set by other potential coach candidates the Browns were reportedly targeting.
While coordinator Grant Udinski (right) doesn't call offensive plays for the Jaguars, the 30-year-old is said to have helped Trevor Lawrence (left) develop into a top-ranked NFL quarterback this past season. (Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)Former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel last week publicly declined a second interview in Cleveland. Having accepted the job as the Los Angeles Chargers' new offensive coordinator on Tuesday, McDaniel then accepted an interview with the Bills for their coaching vacancy. On Monday, McDaniel reportedly withdrew from consideration for the Bills job, as did Philip Rivers after the now-retired Indianapolis Colts quarterback interviewed with the team Friday.
After McDaniel backed away, the Browns were similarly snubbed by Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, who accepted interviews at the behest of other teams, but not Cleveland. And Jesse Minter on Thursday cancelled a second meeting with the Browns, then accepted the head-coach job with the Ravens.
The Browns have not yet fulfilled requirements regarding the NFL's Rooney Rule to interview at least two minority and/or women candidates before making a hire. The team plans on interviewing Rams assistant Nate Scheelhaase a second time this week. The Browns can bring him in now that the Rams are done for the season, after falling to the top-seeded Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
ㅤ
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!