The number of top lieutenants Browns coach Hue Jackson might need to replace exceeds the number of wins they earned in their first season together when the franchise went 1-15.
Not only has Jackson discussed firing defensive coordinator Ray Horton and replacing him with Gregg Williams of the Los Angeles Rams, but associate head coach-offense Pep Hamilton might jump ship.
On Saturday, NFL Network reported Hamilton is considering leaving the Browns to reunite with coach Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan. A person familiar with the situation confirmed Michigan has expressed interest in hiring Hamilton.
He served as Harbaugh's wide receivers coach at Stanford in 2010 and became its offensive coordinator when Harbaugh left to coach the San Francisco 49ers. Michigan has an opening on its coaching staff after passing game coordinator and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch left to take the offensive coordinator gig at UCLA.
Jackson is in charge of the offense and calls the plays, but Hamilton is his highest-ranking assistant on that side of the ball. Hamilton also handles the responsibilities of a quarterbacks coach, even though it isn't part of his title.
So Hamilton's departure would create a significant change for the offensive staff with an even greater shake-up looming on the other side of the ball.
Horton's ouster could become official soon. Alex Marvez of Sporting News reported Williams has been offered the defensive coordinator job and has until Monday to decide whether he'll accept it. A new defensive coordinator would undoubtedly hire his own assistants, thereby creating more modifications to the staff.
