BEREA, Ohio _ Owner Jimmy Haslam said Thursday the Browns will hire their next head coach first, and then the successful candidate will help the organization add a general manager who'll have final say on the 53-man roster.
Haslam said the coach and the GM would both report to ownership as equals.
Haslam said ownership would make the final decision on the coaching hire but with input from others, including chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, who's running the search process.
Haslam said he's joined on the search committee by DePodesta, vice president of football administration Chris Cooper and executive VP JW Johnson, who's part of ownership. Haslam also said his wife and co-owner, Dee, would obviously be involved in the decision on a head coach hiring.
The GM will come from outside the organization, Haslam said, adding assistant GM Eliot Wolf will remain in his position.
Haslam said the Browns are only focused now on coaches with NFL experience when asked about a report they have strong interest in former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer.
The Browns are interviewing former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy on Thursday at their headquarters.
