National Football League

Shanahan: 'I regret how the inner workings of the organization were represented publicly'

Published Jan. 10, 2015 4:39 p.m. ET

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The Browns officially released a statement Saturday confirming that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan resigned and that quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains was not retained.

Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com was the first to report the moves on Jan. 8.

There were reports released this week on Cleveland.com that said the Browns had friction between some of the coaches and the front office. Shanahan alluded to those reports in his statement.

"I appreciate the opportunity Mike Pettine, Ray Farmer and Jimmy Haslam gave me to lead the Browns offense in 2014," Shanahan said. "The Browns organization is committed to improvement and winning.

"I regret how the inner workings of the organization were represented publicly over the last few days," Shanahan said. "Ray and Mike both have the work ethic, experience and talent to work together to turn this organization into a winner. In light of the circumstances, I have decided to resign. I'm grateful for my time with the Browns and wish them great success going forward."

Pettine said the focus is now on finding the replacement for Shanahan and Loggains.

"After conversations with Kyle this week we've determined that it would be in the best interest of the Cleveland Browns that he pursue other opportunities and we have accepted his resignation. Pettine said in the statement. "In Dowell's case, it was a difficult decision but one that we felt we had to make. We wish them both well.

"Our focus quickly turns to finding an outstanding coach to lead our offense and I am confident we will bring in highly qualified individuals to help us develop, improve, and achieve the success we are all seeking," Pettine said. "I look forward to working with the staff as we go through this process to bring in coaches committed to helping the Cleveland Browns lay a strong foundation to take our offense to a consistently high level in the 2015 season and beyond."

The Browns finished the regular season ranked 23rd in total offense, 20th in passing offense and 17th in rushing offense.

The Browns next offensive coordinator will be their sixth in as many seasons. The last coordinator to last more than one season was Brian Daboll under Eric Mangini in the 2009-10 seasons.

Pat Shurmur was his own coordinator in his first season as coach in 2011, then he added Brad Childress in 2012. Norv Turner was coordinator under Rob Chudzinski in 2013, while Shanahan did so in 2014.

Pettine had not worked with Shanahan before this season, and now must replace him. Several names have already been linked to the Browns job including Matt Cavanaugh, John DeFilippo, Marc Trestman, Greg Roman and Charlie Weis.

Cavanaugh, who hails from the Youngstown area, was most recently let go as the Bears quarterback coach when Trestman was fired after the season. His history with Pettine goes back to 1993 at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pettine and Cavanaugh worked together for seven seasons in the NFL with the Ravens (2002-04) and the Jets (2009-12). Cavanaugh assisted in getting Pettine hired with the Ravens as a video assistant in 2002. Cavanaugh was the Ravens offensive coordinator in 2000 when they won the Super Bowl. Cleveland.com first reported the Browns might be interested in Cavanaugh.

DeFilippo interviewed with Pettine last year and stayed in Oakland working with rookie quarterback Derek Carr as the Raiders quarterback coach last season. He was the assistant quarterbacks coach with Pettine and Cavanaugh on the staff with the Jets in 2009.

Roman has been the 49ers offensive coordinator for the past four seasons under Jim Harbaugh but has been given permission by the team to interview with the Browns per multiple reports. Roman is a graduate of John Carroll University in Cleveland. CSNBayArea.com. reported the Browns were granted permission to interview Roman.

Weis was the former Patriots coordinator and Notre Dame coach, before most recently being fired after coaching at Kansas. NFL.com first reported a connection to the Browns.

Trestman was the Bears coach the past two seasons after coaching in the Canadian Football League prior to the Bears. He was the Browns offensive coordinator in 1989. ESPN.com first linked Trestman with the Browns.

It is expected the Browns will try and hire the replacements as six NFL teams are in the process of hiring head coaches and they will be trying to fill their coaching staffs.

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