Browns to Hire Panthers OC Rob Chudzinski, Pass on Mike Zimmer
By Jason Marcum
Jan 5, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer before the AFC wild card playoff game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
UPDATE 10:05 PM
Panthers OC Rob Chudzinski will be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns, per league source. Browns have not confirmed yet.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 11, 2013
And this:
Breaking:: #Browns have hired Rob Chuzinski source told Plain Dealer.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 11, 2013
UPDATE 7:55 PM
In addition to #Browns interviewing Ken Whisenhunt for a 2nd time today, they still really like #Panthers OC Rob Chudzinski.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 11, 2013
The fact that Ken Whisenhunt also was given a second interview bodes well for the Bengals. Jimmy Haslam is new Cleveland Browns owner, and he’ll probably want to make a splash hire. Whisenhunt took the Arizona Cardinals from being one of the worst franchises in the NFL to coming within 35 seconds of winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl. Zimmer has never been a head coach, and at age 56, it would be unprecedented for Haslam to make such a hire in the position he’s in.
Still Zimmer deserves to be a head coach, and maybe his dreams are finally being realized.
"Mike Zimmer’s agent was told the Browns want to talk to the 56-year-old Bengals defensive coordinator again tomorrow.Zimmer has been told the coaching search will be wrapped up by Sunday night.This didn’t come from our source, but it is our belief that it is coming down to Zimmer and Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt, with Bruce Arians still in the picture in a whirlwind drive toward a decision.Also, via our source: Ray Farmer, who was in the front office with Scott Pioli’s Chiefs, will be interviewed for general manager type slot tomorrow.We reported recently that Michael Lombardi is in the Browns’ fold, with only his title to be determined. We can imagine something that would be functionally along the lines of special adviser to Joe Banner.Lombardi and Farmer have known each other since they both worked for the Eagles in the late 1990s.Our source gave us Zimmer’s name immediately after Pat Shurmur was released, saying Zimmer would be interviewed. You may recall the post."
It may be safe to say we’ll know if Zimmer will be returning to Cincinnati on Sunday, as he currently doesn’t have any other interviews scheduled.
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