Cleveland Browns: 5 replacements for Freddie Kitchens

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Freddie Kitchens of the Cleveland Browns talks to Baker Mayfield on the sidelines during the first quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

1 of 5

The Cleveland Browns are moving on from first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens. These five men would be good replacements to bring the Browns back to the playoffs.

The Cleveland Browns were the NFL’s biggest disappointment this season, and it wasn’t close.

They were hyped as the eventual winners of the AFC North, and some even had them in the Super Bowl. They had the second-year phenom at quarterback in Baker Mayfield. They had a defense led by Myles Garrett up the gut. Then, after a trade for Odell Beckham Jr., they seemed to have one of the most talented offenses in recent memory.

All that got them was yet another losing season after the Browns lost to the lowly Cincinnati Bengals. The one-win Bengals ended up winning the battle for Ohio, and solidifying that the Browns needed a change going into next season. Freddie Kitchens was fired after one season as the team’s head coach.

General manager John Dorsey is apparently not “completely safe,” so it’s yet to be seen if he’s going to be the one making the hire, but at this point let’s assume that is happening. Who could he choose to run this team in 2020?

Mike McCarthy

Let’s go with the obvious name first. Mike McCarthy is a former Super Bowl champ who seemed to lose the room in Green Bay, especially the ear of Aaron Rodgers. This season will be very humbling for Mayfield, who is now going to be on his fourth head coach (if you count Williams as the interim). Bringing in someone with clout like McCarthy could get the best out of Mayfield.

Other teams are already reportedly courting McCarthy. The Carolina Panthers have met with him twice. With Black Monday starting early, he’s going to be one of the most coveted names in the entire league.

McCarthy comes with his problems, but he’s also a stabilizing force, something Cleveland desperately needs. McCarthy has 135 wins in his career. That’s 33 more wins than the Browns have since they rejoined the league back in 1999. They desperately need a winner in the room, and someone who can team these players how to react on a game-to-game basis.

Home/Cleveland Browns