Browns’ Past McDermott Pursuit Resurfaces as Bills Shake Up NFL Coaching Landscape

The NFL’s coaching carousel, having spun furiously on Black Monday, received a late and unexpected jolt. The Buffalo Bills, a perennial AFC contender, have reportedly parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott. The move sends shockwaves through the league, instantly catapulting a job with a franchise quarterback, Josh Allen, to the top of every candidate’s list. But in Cleveland, the news resonates on a different, more historical frequency. It reopens a chapter from the Browns’ tumultuous past and presents a tantalizing “what if” scenario that directly involves the architect of their current success, General Manager Andrew Berry.

A Franchise-Altering Decision Revisited

As the Browns conduct second interviews in their search for Kevin Stefanski’s replacement, the McDermott news is more than just league gossip. It is a direct echo from 2016. Following the firing of Mike Pettine, the Browns embarked on a head coaching search led by then-head of football operations Sashi Brown. His right-hand man, a 28-year-old wunderkind named Andrew Berry, served as Vice President of Player Personnel. The group, which included Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, conducted a thorough process, ultimately landing on two finalists: offensive-minded Hue Jackson and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.

By all insider accounts, McDermott—a disciplined, detail-oriented leader—crushed his interview. He was seen as a modern coach, open to analytics and collaborative structure. When the brass took a vote, the result was reportedly 4-1 in favor of hiring Sean McDermott. The lone dissenting vote came from owner Jimmy Haslam, who was enamored with Jackson’s offensive pedigree and forceful personality. Haslam overruled his football executives, a decision that would send the franchise into a tailspin.

DePodesta famously argued for a reconsideration, but the owner’s will prevailed. Jackson would go 1-31 over two seasons, a historic low point. McDermott, hired by Buffalo in 2017, would build a consistent winner, leading the Bills to the playoffs in six of his seven seasons. The divergent paths of the two franchises from that single decision are a stark lesson in organizational process and power.

Andrew Berry’s Evolution and the Cleveland Blueprint

The significance of this history today is inextricably linked to Andrew Berry. The young executive who advocated for McDermott is now the empowered GM of a playoff-caliber Browns team. Berry’s philosophy was shaped in that Sashi Brown regime, one that valued long-term vision, asset accumulation, and collaborative process—a process that identified McDermott as the right leader. After a stint in Philadelphia, Berry returned to Cleveland in 2020 with full control of the 53-man roster, a clear sign that Haslam had, in part, learned from his earlier mistake of overriding his football people.

Berry’s tenure has been defined by aggressive, calculated moves:

• Blockbuster trade for WR Amari Cooper to establish a true No. 1 target.
• The historically structured, fully-guaranteed contract for QB Deshaun Watson, a risk that defines the franchise’s current window.
• Shrewd drafting, like Pro Bowl cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., and value signings like LB Jordan Hicks.

This is the executive, now seasoned and in full command, leading the current coaching search. The ghost of 2016 isn’t just about McDermott; it’s about Berry’s chance to fully realize the football vision that was once thwarted. The question is whether McDermott, now a veteran coach with a proven track record, fits the vision for 2024 and beyond.

To Rekindle the Past or Forge a New Future?

With McDermott available, the Browns face a fascinating philosophical choice. On one hand, there is undeniable narrative symmetry. Hiring McDermott would be the ultimate correction of a past error, validating the original judgment of Berry and his cohort. McDermott’s credentials are impeccable: a defensive mastermind who built a strong culture in Buffalo. For a Browns team with a championship-caliber defense, his expertise could be the final piece.

However, the NFL of 2024 is not the NFL of 2016. The Browns’ situation is markedly different. They are not a rebuild; they are a win-now operation with a massive investment at quarterback. The search committee, led by Berry, must determine if McDermott’s offensive vision—and his ability to select a staff to maximize Deshaun Watson—aligns with their urgent timeline. Furthermore, McDermott will be the most sought-after candidate on the market. The Browns are competing with Buffalo, a ready-made contender with an MVP-level QB, and other potential openings.

Key considerations for the Browns include:

• Offensive Philosophy: Who would McDermott hire as OC, and is that scheme a fit for Watson’s skills?
• Collaborative Dynamic: Would McDermott, coming from a place of full control in Buffalo, mesh with Berry’s roster-building authority?
• The “Reset” Factor: McDermott may seek a job offering a similar level of organizational control he had with the Bills.

Predictions and the Road Ahead for Cleveland

The Bills’ decision has scrambled the coaching market. For Cleveland, it adds a high-profile, defensive-oriented candidate to a pool that likely already includes hot offensive coordinators like Detroit’s Ben Johnson and Houston’s Bobby Slowik. Berry’s process is known to be meticulous and data-informed; sentimentality is unlikely to drive the decision.

My prediction is that the Browns will conduct due diligence on Sean McDermott. The connection is too significant to ignore, and Berry will want to hear his vision firsthand. However, I believe the franchise will ultimately go in a different direction, prioritizing an offensive innovator who can construct a system specifically for Deshaun Watson. The allure of pairing Watson with a young, offensive play-caller may outweigh the appeal of course-correcting history.

Furthermore, McDermott is more likely to be drawn to a situation like Buffalo’s (or potentially Atlanta’s) where a quick retool, rather than a full offensive overhaul, is needed. The Browns’ job, with its Watson-centric imperative, is a uniquely pressurized offensive challenge.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Lessons, Not Just Lost Opportunities

The firing of Sean McDermott does more than create a top job opening; it holds a mirror up to the Cleveland Browns’ evolution. The 2016 decision to pass on him, over the objections of Andrew Berry, represents the old Browns: impulsive, fractured, and doomed to repeat failure. The 2024 coaching search, led by that same Andrew Berry now wielding well-earned authority, represents the new Browns: process-driven, strategic, and aligned from ownership down.

Whether or not McDermott becomes the next head coach in Cleveland, his sudden availability serves as a powerful benchmark. It measures how far the organization has come in trusting its football leadership. The real victory for the Browns is not necessarily in hiring the coach they once wanted, but in finally having the stable, intelligent structure in place to make that decision—or any decision—for the right football reasons. The past is a lesson, but the future, for the first time in a long time, is entirely in their own competent hands.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.