The other search is underway.
The Browns requested permission to interview Philadelphia Eagles vice president of football operations Andrew Berry and Indianapolis Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds for their GM vacancy, a person familiar with the situation confirmed Saturday.
The Browns have yet to publicly disclose a decision on their next head coach, but owner Jimmy Haslam said Jan. 2 the successful candidate would be heavily involved in helping the organization hire a GM.
So it's worth noting Berry has been linked to Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and Dodds has history with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Berry had been expected to emerge as a candidate ever since the Browns agreed with former GM John Dorsey to part ways Dec. 31. Berry held the title of vice president of player personnel with the Browns for three years before joining the Eagles in February, and he has huge fans in Browns ownership who didn't want him to leave Cleveland.
Stefanski and Saleh are among eight candidates who interviewed with the Browns for their head coaching opening.
Stefanski reportedly received the backing of Berry and Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta last year when Stefanski finished runner-up to Freddie Kitchens for the head coaching job. Stefanski interviewed with the Browns for the second consecutive year on Jan. 9 in Minnesota.
Saleh thoroughly impressed the Browns' search committee when the two sides spoke Jan. 4 in California, a source said.
Saleh is guiding the Niners' defense in an NFC divisional-round playoff game against Stefanski and the Vikings' offense Saturday.
The Browns wrapped up their head coaching interviews Friday with New England Patriots offensive coordinator and Canton McKinley High School graduate Josh McDaniels.
The franchise is aiming to arrive at a decision this weekend on who it'll hire as its new head coach.
In addition to Saleh, Stefanski and McDaniels, the Browns interviewed the following five candidates for their head coaching gig:
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy, whom the Dallas Cowboys named head coach Jan. 7.
The Browns fired Kitchens on Dec. 29 after going 6-10 in his only season on the job and then agreed with Dorsey to separate two days later.
Sports Illustrated reported Stefanski had Berry and Vikings assistant GM George Paton on his GM wish list and Saleh had the following four people on his: Dodds, Seattle Seahawks co-directors of player personnel Scott Fitterer and Trent Kirchner and Niners vice president of player personnel Adam Peters.
Stefanski and McDaniels have long been considered favorites in the Browns' search. But Dodds surfacing as a candidate is an indication Saleh shouldn't be dismissed as another legitimate contender to win the head coaching job.
Dodds spent 10 seasons (2007-2016) with the Seahawks and worked with Saleh for three of those years. Saleh was a defensive quality control coach with the Seahawks from 2011-13. They won the Super Bowl to end the 2013 season.
Dodds worked in the Seahawks' pro personnel and college scouting departments and became a senior personnel executive for two years before Colts GM Chris Ballard hired him in 2017 as VP of player personnel. He has been the Colts' assistant GM for the past two seasons.
Berry joined the Browns in 2016. He had previously worked for the Colts from 2009-15, spending his last four years with them as pro scouting coordinator.
