Eagles Ex Brian Johnson Interviewing With Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have had success on the defensive side of the ball with a former Philadelphia Eagles coordinator, and it appears that coach Kevin Stefanski is considering going back to that well with the team's offensive coordinator vacancy.
USA Today
According to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns plan to interview Brian Johnson for their offensive coordinator position Thursday. Johnson had previously interviewed for the Tennessee Titans coaching job earlier this cycle, but that ultimately went to former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. The Eagles officially parted ways with Johnson on Tuesday, and this is the first interview he's received to be an offensive coordinator elsewhere since the dismissal.
The Browns would be an interesting destination because coach Kevin Stefanski is likely to win his second Coach of the Year Award soon, and former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz did an excellent job in the same role in 2023. Really, Cleveland overachieved even making the playoffs without quarterback Deshaun Watson for 11 games, with the offensive staff resurrecting the career of former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.
Ultimately, though, the Browns made a staggering investment in Watson when they acquired him from the Houston Texans in March of 2022, sending three first-round picks, a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick in return for the quarterback. On top of that, they sealed the deal by offering him a five-year/$230 million contract that's fully guaranteed.
Through Watson's first two years in Cleveland, the trade looks like an unmitigated disaster. Because of an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy in 2022 and season-ending shoulder surgery a third of the way through the 2023 season, Watson has played in a total of 12 games over the first two years of his contract. What's more, the superstar-caliber quarterback that once played for the Texans has yet to re-emerged, as Watson has thrown for 14 touchdowns to nine interceptions since joining the Browns. The 2020 season was the last time that Watson looked like a franchise quarterback.
So getting Watson back on track in 2024 will be of utmost importance, and part of that may just be having an offensive coordinator he builds a good rapport with. Johnson's close relationship with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is well-documented. Hurts is from Houston and has been friendly with Watson throughout his career, so he could put in a good word for Johnson -- also a Texas native -- and get the relationship off to a strong start.
Even if Johnson wouldn't be the play caller for the Browns, if he is hired as offensive coordinator and Watson re-emerges as a superstar, it would likely make the 36-year-old a hot candidate next coaching cycle.
