A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Browns have hired Carolina offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski as their new coach.
Chudzinski will become the Browns’ sixth full-time coach since 1999, said the person who spoke to the Associated Press last night on the condition of anonymity because the team has not yet announced the hiring. Chudzinski, 44, has spent the past two seasons with the Panthers. He also has had two stints with the Browns as an assistant coach.
The Browns have been searching for a coach since firing Pat Shurmur on Dec. 31 after a 5-11 season.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville fired coach Mike Mularkey after just one 2-14 season, the worst in franchise history.
New general manager David Caldwell made the announcement two days after he was hired, giving him a clean slate heading into 2013. Caldwell said he wants to immediately explore every avenue possible to turn the Jaguars around.
49ERS:David Akers is keeping his job as San Francisco’s starting kicker.
Jim Harbaugh made the announcement after practice, two days ahead of the San Francisco’s NFC divisional playoff game against the Packers.
EAGLES:Lovie Smith interviewed with the Eagles as the team continued its search to replace Andy Reid, who was fired after a 4-12 finish.
Smith is the seventh candidate to meet with owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman and president Don Smolenski. The Eagles haven’t announced who they plan to interview next, but they received permission to speak to three assistant coaches.
CARDINALS: Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is the latest to interview for the vacant head coaching job with Arizona.
Gruden, younger brother of former Oakland and Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, said his interview with the Cardinals was his first for a head-coaching job with any NFL team.
STEELERS: Rookie running back Chris Rainey has run out of chances with the Pittsburgh.
The Steelers cut the troubled 24-year-old following his arrest on a battery charge in Gainesville, Fla., the latest in a series of off-the-field incidents that have threatened his career.
VIKINGS: Minnesota linebacker Chad Greenway has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl team as an injury replacement for DeMarcus Ware of the Cowboys.