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The Cleveland Browns Next Head Coach Should Be…

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Wayne Gregoire | Last updated Jan 2, 2026 8:02 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski are headed for a divorce, and it’s no secret to anyone around the NFL. Since taking over in 2020, he has posted a pathetic record of 44-56, and his teams have never finished in the top half of the league in yards gained, and only appear there once in points per game. This season, the team has only four wins, and discussions have already started across social media regarding who should be next.

The Next Head Coach Of The Cleveland Browns Shouldn’t Be…

Deion Sanders: A popular name that has been thrown around is the current head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. Before the NFL Draft in April, some thought it was possible that the Dallas Cowboys would hire Coach Prime and draft his son, Shedeur. The only team that could even consider this would be Dallas, because they care more about tabloid headlines than they do about wins. Deion would not make a good NFL coach, and based on the past three seasons in Boulder, he’s not much of a college coach either. This option is completely unrealistic and only good for debating on Facebook.

Robert Saleh: The San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator is great at what he does, but isn’t someone who should lead a team. Like New England Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, Saleh is great at calling plays, and that’s it. He had his shot as the big cheese, and in four years at the helm for the New York Jets, Saleh posted a 20-36 record, never winning more than seven games in a season. He’d be a great hire as the DC for Cleveland, but an awful pick to be the head coach.

Mike McDaniel: The popular name floating around is the Miami Dolphins head coach. It makes sense because the last thing the Browns want to do is bring in a defensive-minded coach. The defense is not, and really never has been, the problem. The issue is that the team can’t score points or move the ball, so what better decision than hiring an alleged offensive genius? McDaniel is a genius in nickname only. He is barely over .500 with Miami, and this past season, his offense ranked 25th in yards and 22nd in points scored. Last season, they ranked 18th and 13th, respectively.

It Should Be…

Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. He’s actually a genius, at least when it comes to the quarterback position. This will be needed in Cleveland next year, because whether it’s Sanders helming the offense, Dillon Gabriel, or some unlucky college kid the team takes a chance on this April, the Browns are going to have a young and inexperienced quarterback.

Jun 15, 2021; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi (right) and quarterback Jusitn Herbert (10) uring minicamp at the Hoag Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Lombardi has not had the chance to be the head coach of a team, but he has had nothing, literally nothing, but success with quarterbacks. As the Offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions in 2014 and 2015, he helped Matt Stafford to 4,000-yard seasons in back-to-back years. He then became the quarterbacks coach in New Orleans, where all Drew Brees did under Lombardi was complete 72.1% of his passes for 277.9 yards per game, and had a passer rating of 107.9.

Stafford and Brees were savvy veterans, though, so how would he do with a young quarterback? In 2021 and 2022, he was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. The reason Justin Herbert got a record-breaking contract is that he played for Lombardi. As the coordinator in the city of angels, Lombardi oversaw an offense that allowed Herbert to throw for nearly 10,000 yards and 63 touchdowns in his second and third years combined.

After LA, Lombardi called plays for Russell Wilson in 2023. The quarterback went from 16 touchdowns the previous year to 2026 under Sean Payton’s offensive play-caller. Then Lombardi got to coach a rookie for the first time, and all Bo Nix has done is throw 54 touchdowns to 23 interceptions in two seasons, with a passer rating of 90.7 and the league’s best record.

End Of My Cleveland Browns Rant

Every quarterback that has ever thrown a pass under Lombardi has posted a passer rating over 90. The last time the Browns had a starter with a passer rating that high was Baker Mayfield in 2020. The Browns are sure to go into 2026 with either a rookie signal-caller or a not-nearly-experienced-enough second-year quarterback. Joe Lombardi should not be at the top of their list for head coach; he should be the only name on the list. Forget defensive coaches, and bring in the best quarterback whisperer of the 21st century.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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