There was a tweet from Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot earlier, citing ESPN, which said the Browns were interviewing Oregon coach Chip Kelly Friday.
But the only thing ESPN had on its website was a wire story citing “multiple reports,” that Browns CEO Joe Banner was in Phoenix ready to interview Kelly after the bowl game.
Finally, someone with an actual name and face is saying it, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting the Browns are interviewing him Friday or this weekend.
Kelly has been described by many as wanting near-total personnel control, and that would fit the outline Browns owner Jimmy Haslam gave the other day, wanting to hire a coach first and then back-fill with a sub-GM personnel man.
There have been questions about whether Kelly’s offense will work in the NFL, and applying that question to the Browns in particular raises questions about Brandon Weeden’s suitability.
But that’s a question he’ll probably answer in his interview with Banner, when that happens.
UPDATE 4:51 p.m. ET: Cabot is now confirming a Friday interview with Haslam and Banner for Kelly. They are already in Phoenix, after interview Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.