With the Browns seeking their next head coach, they turned to a candidate who has previously played the part for two other NFL franchises.
The Browns interviewed Jim Caldwell on Wednesday at their headquarters in Berea, Ohio a day after interim coach Gregg Williams made his case in a meeting with team brass.
The Browns are reportedly scheduled to interview former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy on Thursday, New Orleans Saints assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell on Friday, New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores over the weekend and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski on Monday.
General manager John Dorsey said they'll interview Browns offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens at some point, too.
They also requested permission to interview Indianapolis Colts coordinators Nick Sirianni (offense) and Matt Eberflus (defense). Sirianni and Eberflus wouldn't be able to audition until next week because they'll be coaching in the wild-card round Saturday.
Of the aforementioned candidates, only McCarthy, who went 125-77-2, plus 10-8 in the playoffs, in nearly 13 seasons at the helm of the Packers, has more NFL head coaching experience than Caldwell.
The Packers interviewed Caldwell for their vacancy, which was created when they fired McCarthy on Dec. 2. The New York Jets also reportedly plan to interview Caldwell.
Caldwell compiled a combined record of 64-54, including 2-4 in the postseason, during his seven seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Lions (2014-17) and Indianapolis Colts (2009-11).
Caldwell, who will turn 64 on Jan. 16, spent this past season out of the NFL and worked as a consultant for the rebooting XFL.
The Lions fired Caldwell after the 2017 season despite him posting the highest regular-season winning percentage (.563) among their coaches in the Super Bowl era. He went 36-28 in four seasons with them, but defeated just four opponents that finished above .500 and was 0-2 in the playoffs.
After Caldwell went 9-7 in his final season with the Lions, former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia succeeded him and went 6-10 in 2018.
In Caldwell's three seasons as the head coach of the Colts, they went 26-22 and 2-2 in the playoffs. With quarterback Peyton Manning leading the way, they advanced to Super Bowl XLIV during the 2009 season but fell 31-17 to the New Orleans Saints.
Caldwell tasted victory twice in the Super Bowl as an assistant.
He was the Colts' quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach under coach Tony Dungy when Manning and Co. defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI to end the 2006 season. He was Baltimore's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under coach John Harbaugh when quarterback Joe Flacco caught fire in the 2012 postseason and the Ravens edged the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII.
His 40-year coaching resume also includes an eight-season stint as the head coach at Wake Forest (1993-2000).
Caldwell is among the minority candidates who were recommended to the league by the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which promotes diversity and equality of job opportunity in the coaching, front office and scouting staffs of NFL teams.
The NFL's Rooney Rule requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head coach.
