Cleveland Browns

Browns pause in search for next coach

Published Jan. 11, 2016 6:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

CLEVELAND (AP) The Browns' coaching search has gone strangely quiet.

After interviewing seven candidates last week, the team did not conduct any meetings on Monday, a break that could indicate they have someone in mind to become their eighth coach since 1999.

Cleveland's search committee was back at the team's headquarters to regroup after a busy few days talking to prospective coaches.

The Browns met with Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson on Sunday, shortly after the 50-year-old visited with the San Francisco 49ers about their vacancy.

Jackson and Jacksonville offensive assistant Doug Marrone are the only coaches the Browns have met with thus far who have NFL head coaching experience.

Jackson's familiarity with the AFC North could give him an edge over the other candidates. The Browns also met on Sunday with Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who took a break from preparation from this week's playoff game against Seattle to speak with Cleveland executives.

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