Cleveland Browns: 5 coaches who should replace Hue Jackson

1. John DeFilippo

Jackson was supposed to be the “QB guru” but he has been anything but that. John DeFilippo was Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2015 when Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel were under center.

With the complete turnover, no one was safe and DeFilippo had to get another job. His work with Eagles QB Carson Wentz has not gone unnoticed, who prior to his season-ending injury likely was the favorite to win the MVP award. Before the injury, per pro-football-refernce.com, Wentz racked up 3,296 yards and a touchdown to interception ratio of 33:7.

If everything worked in Cleveland, the Youngstown, Ohio native would have stayed in NE Ohio. Instead, according to The MMQB’s Albert Breer, DeFilippo will interview with the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears on Friday and Saturday.

Rather than being content with a 1-31 record, the Haslams, especially Jimmy Haslam, must swallow their pride and admit their plan failed. In theory, it is not too late to fire Jackson, but ownership already dug themselves in a deep hole keeping Jackson.

If they just understood for the sake of the team that moving on from Jackson would help, that would be a huge weight off the franchise. It would also be great if the Haslams sold the team too but that’s not happening anytime soon.

Under the mindset Cleveland would need a head coach, I understand why DeFilippo wouldn’t want to leave Philly and Wentz for the Browns’ situation. Still, there’s nothing like coming home again. For good reasons, DeFilippo could be a head coach soon.

Next: 10 moves the Browns must make this offseason

Knowing the work DeFilippo has done with Wentz though should catapult him to the top of everyone’s list, including Cleveland’s. Just like Wentz past and current Browns employees will wish DeFilippo wasn’t hired. It’s hard to imagine just two teams want to interview him. At the end of the day, all five of these coaches would make Jackson look like a JV coach.