A person familiar with Cleveland’s coaching search says Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase has removed his name from consideration for the job.
Gase informed Browns owner Jimmy Haslam on Tuesday that he was withdrawing his name.
The 35-year-old Gase was the first candidate contacted by the Browns, who fired Rob Chudzinski following one season. Gase declined an initial interview request because he wanted to concentrate on the playoffs. Denver will play Seattle in the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.
Last week, Haslam said the team is “prepared to wait as long as necessary” to hire a coach.
The Browns have interviewed at least eight known candidates to become their seventh full-time coach since 1999.
A person familiar with the situation says new Detroit head coach Jim Caldwell and Saints assistant Joe Lombardi have a agreed on deal for Lombardi to become the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Payton’s New Orleans staff since 2007. He was named quarterbacks coach in 2009, the season the Saints won their only Super Bowl over the Indianapolis Colts, who were then coached by Caldwell.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees has passed for more than 5,000 yards in a season three times with Lombardi as his position coach.