The Cleveland Browns have been mostly unaggressive in their pursuit of an offensive coordinator, presumably because the organization is already littered with offensive thinkers. Mike Holmgren was an offensive-minded head coach before becoming team president, and Pat Shurmur was an offensive coordinator before Holmgren tabbed him as Browns head coach.
The Browns lost out to the Vikings for Bill Musgrave on Wednesday. Holmgren now appears to have turned his attention to the college ranks.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former University of Miami (FL) offensive coordinator Mark Whipple has emerged as a candidate for the same position on Shurmur’s staff. Whipple was replaced by ex-Seahawks quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch after Hurricanes head coach Randy Shannon was let go in favor of Al Golden.
Whipple does offer extensive NFL experience, having coached quarterbacks in Pittsburgh during Ben Roethlisberger’s early years. Whipple was an offensive assistant on Andy Reid’s Eagles staff in 2007 and 2008.