Getting out of Rex Ryan’s shadow could end up earning Mike Pettine a head coaching job.
Pettine is scheduled to have a second interview with the Browns for their head-coaching position, according to ESPN.com. Cleveland also wants a second interview with Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, whose team reached the Super Bowl on Sunday.
The other top candidate is Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, but Cleveland.com reports Gase is leaning toward staying in Denver. Other candidates have also passed on the opportunity to coach the Browns, including Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
The Browns fired Rob Chudzinski after one season, and owner Jimmy Haslam has asked for patience with their “very methodical” approach.
Pettine, who coached under Ryan with the Ravens and Jets from 2002-12, helped turn around the Bills defense in his first season away from Ryan as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator last season with the unit going from 22nd to 10th in the NFL. The Jets were in the top eight in total defense all four of Pettine’s seasons, but the defensive-minded Ryan got most of the credit.