Matt Cavanaugh, Jimmy Clausen
Former Chicago Bears quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh is a possible candidate for the Browns offensive coordinator job. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
(Nam Y. Huh)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Bears quarterbacks coach and Youngstown native Matt Cavanaugh, who has a long history with Browns coach Mike Pettine, is on the Browns' radar for their offensive coordinator job, a source told Northeast Ohio Media Group Thursday.
Cavanaugh, 58, would replace Kyle Shanahan, whose request to be released from the final two years of his contract was granted this week by Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.
Cavanaugh, whose contract expired with the Bears after the season, was not asked back when Marc Trestman was fired Dec. 29.
Cavanaugh's history with Pettine dates back to 1993 when both were at the University of Pittsburgh, Cavanaugh as an offensive coach and Pettine as a defensive graduate assistant.
They went on to work together for seven seasons in the NFL, including three with the Ravens from 2002 to 2004, and four with the Jets from 2009-2012. Cavanaugh was instrumental in getting Pettine hired with the Ravens as a video assistant in 2002, so it would be a great way to return the favor.
When Pettine took the Browns job last season, he was paired with Shanahan despite never having worked with him. In Cavanaugh, Pettine would have a longtime familiar colleague running his offense and would have a comfort level with his way of doing things. Cavanaugh was assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach of the Jets for the four years that Pettine was defensive coordinator there.
During those four seasons, the Jets made it to the AFC Championship game twice. In six postseason games, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez had a 94.3 passer rating, ninth-highest in NFL playoff history among quarterbacks with at least 100 postseason attempts. Sanchez will be available this offseason.
Cavanaugh was offensive coordinator of the Ravens in 2000 when they won Super Bowl XXXV. That year, they rushed for a franchise-record 2,199 yards, fifth-most in the NFL. Jamal Lewis rushed for 1,364 yards as a rookie that season, ranking seventh in the NFL. Under Cavanaugh's tutelage, he rushed for 2,066 yards in 2003, third-highest in NFL history.
A former NFL quarterback, Cavanaugh has 23 years coaching experience, including 17 seasons in the NFL and 13 as an offensive coordinator in the NFL or college ranks.
In Cleveland, Cavanaugh could serve the dual role of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach if necessary.
Trestman and his staff were let go this year after a 5-11 season. The offense finished 21st overall, including 15th in passing and 27th in rushing. They were 23rd with 19.9 points per game.
Another possible Browns offensive coordinator candidate, former Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, also hails from Youngstown and has worked with Cavanaugh and Pettine.
In 2009, DeFilippo was assistant quarterbacks coach for the Jets under Cavanaugh, where he helped Sanchez lead the Jets to the AFC Championship as a rookie. Pettine was impressed with DeFilippo during his interview last year. If the Browns like both, perhaps Cavanaugh could replace Shanahan and DeFilippo could take over for quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains, who was fired on Thursday.
DeFillipo, who received high marks for his work with rookie quarterback Derek Carr this season, is reportedly also a candidate for the offensive coordinator job at Pitt.
Cavanaugh's former boss, Trestman, would be interested in the Browns coordinator post, according to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler. He held that post in Cleveland in 1995-96.