Why Browns Reportedly Passed on Hiring Dan Campbell As Head Coach in 2019
In the entirety of the Browns' history, there have been plenty of moments that have left fans wondering what could have been. One such moment likely stings even more as the Browns (1–5) inch closer to their fourth missed playoff appearance in the last five years.
Back in 2019, Cleveland, just two years removed from a winless season and in search of its fifth different head coach since 2011, had the chance to hire current Lions coach Dan Campbell. Campbell, then a tight ends coach with the Saints under Sean Payton, interviewed with Cleveland in January '19, and reportedly knocked the interview out of the park.
But Campbell ultimately wasn't hired by the Browns, seemingly due in part to owner Jimmy Haslam, as reported by Tyler Dunne of Go Long.
"It was awesome. I mean it was awesome, " a source told Dunne of Campbell's Browns interview. "But Dan said, 'I want to have a tough team and run the ball.' Because that's what the old football guys would do. That doesn't mean you're not going to pass. But Jimmy was so much—I don't want to say brainwashed—but under the influence of what the analytics say and how passing is so much more important than running, it was almost like he dismissed him after that statement.
"I don't know that he did, but that's what it felt like."
While Dunne's report admittedly hedges pretty heavilty at the end there, it still seems like Haslam had an idea in mind for exactly what kind of coach he was looking for—and Campbell didn't exactly fit that mold philosophically. The Browns eventually promoted Freddie Kitchens, who went from running backs coach to interim offensive coordinator 2018, to become head coach the following year. Kitchens stumbled to a 6–10 record in '19 and was a one-and-done.
The what-if-the-Browns-hired-Campbell scenario is made even more painful by the fact that Baker Mayfield, an MVP candidate for the Buccaneers in 2025, was in just his second season then. One can only imagine what a Campbell-Mayfield combination could have accomplished.
And while current Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who was hired in 2020, has easily been the most successful coach the team has had since the 2000s began, he hasn't exactly turned the Browns into a perennial winner.
It's hard not to wonder if Campbell, likely en route to his third straight winning season in Detroit, would have done so in Cleveland.
New Orleans Saints Legend Cam Jordan Opens Door To Potential Exit
There are just five games left in the regular season for the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans is one of just three teams in the NFC that have already been eliminated from playoff contention. The Saints are 2-10. The only team in the NFC with a worse record is the New York Giants at 2-11.
We're at a point in the season when it's perfectly fair to look ahead. The Saints look like they're going to finish in last place in the division for the second straight year. It seems like a rebuild in some capacity should be on the way, unless Tyler Shough really is the quarterback to build around. He has looked really good and seems like he is, but that's a conversation for another day.
Will Cam Jordan come back?
Another guy to keep an eye on is Cameron Jordan. The eight-time Pro Bowler is one of the top overall pass rushers in NFL history. Even though he's 36 years old, he's still racking up sacks and has 6 1/2 this year. He's going to be a free agent after the season, but will he be back? Jordan was asked this question on Wednesday and at least opened the door to the possibility of an exit.
"I don't know if I've ever considered any of that," Jordan said in a clip shared to X by NewOrleans.Football. "I've left that for the uppers to figure out and you guys to figure out. If they don't want me, there's 31 other -- probably four other teams, it's really three other teams he's real old. In my mind, it's always playing here or retiring.
"But again, maybe it's not. As you look at the past couple of years, maybe you do have to look around. I think that time will tell where that happens. I'm just focused on this week, this game, how best to attack the run game and advantageous pass rush situation."
That would be devastating for New Orleans. Jordan is a 15-year veteran and has played in more games wearing a Saints jersey than any other player. Seeing him in another team's jersey should be the last thing any fan wants right now. Instead, hopefully the Saints can build this roster up and have a quick turnaround like the New England Patriots have done this season.
Cam Jordan took to social media
The season hasn't gone as planned and Sunday was a perfect example. New Orleans lost against the Dolphins, 21-17. There were things to be excited about. Cam Jordan had two sacks, Devaughn Vele had eight catches and a touchdown, and Tyler Shough continued to show flashes. But turnovers and some bad luck doomed the team at the end. All in all, it was the Saints' fourth one-score loss this season.
After the game, Jordan took to social media.
"Was angry, and realized this is what we have shown time and time again," Jordan wrote on X. "Understanding that we are building for the future, I’m still of the mindset of we need to win these winnable games the last 2 weeks. Stay the course!"
He followed up with a second post.
"I want black and gold to win," Jordan wrote. "Understanding that is how I’m moving forward!"
The part about the Dolphins game being what the Saints have "shown time and time again" is a bit cryptic. But it's not surprising to see someone be frustrated after a loss like the one the team had against Miami. It was a winnable game. Even when it seemed to be lost as Shough threw an interception on the two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter, New Orleans got more life with an onside kick recovery. Then, that hope was squashed again.
It's been a long season. Jordan has been a part of plenty of them as this is his 15th with the franchise. Last season was brutal as New Orleans went 5-12 and finished in last place in the division. This one is shaping up to be even worse, although, there are some bright spots. Jordan is having a phenomenal season, Shough looks like a quarterback to build around, and there are some young weapons on both sides of the ball.
