Breaking News: Ohio State Star in the Running for Browns Coaching Role
The Cleveland Browns were hit hard by the injury bug this season, but they still managed to impress many people by finishing with an 11-6 record and making the playoffs for just the third time since their current iteration began play in 1999.
There are still questions about whether injured stars Deshaun Watson and Nick Chubb will be the same next season, but if they are, the team should be a real force in the AFC.
They have made some changes to the coaching staff since their wild-card playoff round loss to the Houston Texans, including the hiring of new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, who replaced Alex Van Pelt.
Per CFB Focus, the Browns are interviewing Ohio State University linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, although it is unclear which position he’s interviewing for.
Laurinaitis played four seasons at Ohio State from 2005 to 2008, and while there, he was a three-time consensus All-American, a three-time First-team All-Big Ten selection, and a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
He was a second-round draft pick in 2009 by the then-St. Louis Rams, and he played eight seasons in the NFL, seven of them coming with the Rams.
The Browns largely won with defense this season, as defensive end Myles Garrett was named the Defensive Player of the Year, and they got improved play from linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who led them in tackles and tackles for loss and earned his first Pro Bowl nod. Laurinaitis is 37 years of age and has just two years of coaching experience at the college level.