Source: Browns set to hire Jauron to be defensive coordinator

The Browns are poised to make former three-time NFL head coach Dick Jauron their new defensive coordinator, an NFL source told SI.com on Friday. Jauron, who spent last season coaching the Eagles secondary, is expected to reach a contract agreement with Cleveland soon, perhaps as early as Friday afternoon.

Jauron and former Bears and Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt both interviewed for the Cleveland defensive coordinator job this week. Jauron's familiarity with Browns president Mike Holmgren might have been the key factor in his favor. Jauron, 60, was an assistant on Holmgren's first Green Bay coaching staff in 1992, and spent three seasons as Holmgren's defensive backs coach. Jauron has been a fulltime head coach in Chicago and Buffalo, and served as the Lions interim head coach for the final five games of 2005.

Jauron was also a candidate to become the Eagles defensive coordinator, after Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid fired second-year coordinator Sean McDermott last week. In Cleveland, Jauron will replace departed coordinator Rob Ryan, who was not retained by new head coach Pat Shurmur.