Cleveland Browns rumors: 5 head coaching candidates

4. Matt Patricia

Patricia has been an assistant under Bill Belichick with the Patriots since 2004, starting on the offensive side of the ball, and he has been the defensive coordinator since 2012. Yet another deep playoff run this year may impact him as a candidate for head coaching jobs, but the Browns should be willing to wait if they’ve honed in on Patricia.

One knock on Patricia has been his unpolished appearance. He also expertly trolled commissioner Roger Goodell with a “clown” t-shirt upon arriving back home from the Super Bowl last February, which was instantly perceived as damaging to his chances of ever becoming an NFL head coach.

But all that should matter is Patricia’s acumen as a football coach, and he has done great work doing his part to turn around New England’s defense after an incredibly poor start this season. He will surely take cues, if not an outright directive, from his head coach about only seeing what’s directly in front of him during weekly preparation heading into the next game day. But Patricia will definitely get head coach interviews again this year, and the Browns have to have some interest in talking to him.