Since taking over as the Browns’ interim head coach after the team fired the much-maligned Hue Jackson, Gregg Williams has put together a 4-2 record and even has Browns fans dreaming about a playoff push. That chatter increased after the team’s exciting win in Denver last night, and Williams’ stock is rising as a result.
Most interim coaches in Williams’ situation get a perfunctory interview for the full-time gig, and it was expected that Williams’ interview with the Browns this offseason would be no different. But in light of the team’s success under his watch, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Williams’ interview with team brass will be a “real one” that could end with his getting the job.
Phil Simms of the CBS Sports Network believes Williams has a “really good” chance of staying on as the Browns’ head coach in 2019 (video link), though NFL insider and former ESPN reporter Ed Werder hears from a Browns source that Williams has a small chance, but a chance nonetheless (Twitter link).
Williams previously served as the Bills’ head coach from 2001-03, though his club put together a 17-31 record during that time with no playoff appearances. He will always be remembered for the infamous Bountygate scandal during his time as the Saints’ defensive coordinator, but he remains a well-respected defensive mind and he has seemingly developed a good rapport with Browns OC Freddie Kitchens, who is getting plenty of praise for his work since being promoted to the role at the end of October.
Williams could also return to Cleveland as the defensive coordinator, but if he does not get the head coaching job with the Browns, he may prefer to look elsewhere.
He deserves a full season there to see what he can do. Didnt improve his team this much by accident
The question is is the improvement due to him, or the OC. Hasn’t the defense been playing worse since he took over?
The defense has been worse this year due to injuries but still a above average defense.
The defense stinks. Check their average yards allowed stat, just to begin.
Points given up and red zone numbers are all that matter in today’s offensive NFL. Any team with a mediocre offense isnt going to have trouble moving the ball in this league.
Doesn’t hurt that this is going to be a horrible year to hire a coach. No real sure thing candidates. Unless you just want McCarthy.
He doesn’t deserve anything. He had a head coaching gig and choked. He has been a cancer on several teams as D coordinator. That being said that is what Cleveland looks for.
Hire Riley or McCarthy, because all Williams is a defensive coordinator! Made a lot of bone head calls against Denver last night
I gotta give him credit where credit is due; however, he is a total asshat and I wouldn’t want him in any capacity going forward.
“I don’t like this man so he can’t coach”
Hiring Williams would be a massive mistake and over reacting to some wins vs ailing teams. He has a major ego and like Bubba said above a cancer in many pervious spots. The team was still competitive this year with Hue
you lost all credibility with that last sentence
Come home to KC Greg and coach our defense.
It’s not a surprise that once the incompetent Jackson got fired the Browns started to do better, this is one of the best Browns teams in a long time.
Dark horse though, Ron Rivera probably gonna get fired he can do great things with the Browns.
I’m assuming most of the people commenting here aren’t actually Browns fans, so let me put my two cents in since I watch them every week.
He absolutely should get a chance to be the full-time coach. I thought at the beginning of the process that the new guy had to be an offensive guy unless he totally blew them away, and to this point, that’s what he’s done.
He (along with Baker, of course) has changed the attitude of these players. They believe they’re good, and Williams has done an incredible job of getting them to play hard every week. Old Browns teams would have found a way to lose each of these games recently, but this team has a different fight and is finding a way to win these. That’s not just a coincidence.
Firing Hue and Haley was automatically going to lead to improvements so the outside perception is probably that it’s just addition by subtraction, but this is the first time in years that the Browns have actually looked like a legitimate team. They aren’t used to success, so why mess with it when you finally experience it? Keep the status quo and see what these guys can do over a full season.
Next year after 8 games and a 2-6 or 3-5 start you will think man my head was frozen last year when I made that post.
I’m assuming you don’t watch the Browns to have noticed the tangible difference in how they’ve played the past few weeks
It’s just the fact that Williams holds the players accountable. Something Todd Haley was trying to do and something Hue Jackson would never do.
They have been a different team since he took over.
I think the browns should hire a head coach and make Williams the highest paid DC in the league as a pat on the back for this year. I think the browns will go toward an offensive mind at HC and I’m not sure what that will mean for Kitchens.
i thought williams was a total d!ck when they hired him, and perhaps he is, but he’s really grown on me in the 2 years he’s been here. obviously the guys play well for him, but i think it’s best to not be to hasty.. temper your enthusiasm just a touch and really think it thru before you hire him full time. last thing i want is another case of mangini when he won 4 games to end the year or whatever and managed to keep his job after that. how did that work out? the browns got the QB right finally.. will they now do the same
for the head coach? bc that’s been just as big of a revolving door as the QB position.