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Bills grant Browns permission to interview Jim O’Neil for Defensive Coordinator

By Peter Smith

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Oct 20, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Cleveland Browns helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Cleveland Browns helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cleveland Browns have permission from the Buffalo Bills to interview linebackers coach Jim O’Neil to be their defensive coordinator according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post among other places.  A move that has been in the works basically since Mike Pettine got the job of head coach, the Bills are in position to let O’Neil go with the hire of Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator to replace the departing Pettine.

When the announcement was made that Pettine was going to be hired, O’Neil’s name immediately came up for the defensive coordinator post and is reported to have said he was ready to follow Pettine to Cleveland.  These two have worked together for 5 years and known each other longer, so this interview is more of a formality than anything else.

There could be more Bills defensive assistants to follow if Schwartz wants to bring in his own staff and the impression from those around the Bills is that the defensive staff in Buffalo was largely Pettine’s choosing.

The larger question facing the Browns is who will be the offensive coordinator.  There have been some feelers put out but nothing concrete at this point.

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