Nate Scheelhaase, Jesse Minter interview with Browns; Jim Schwartz, Todd Monken to get second interviews

As the Browns continued with first interviews Friday, they began scheduling second interviews as the coaching searched kicked back into gear.Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will meet with ownership, general manager Andrew Berry and others for the second time, a league source confirmed to The Chronicle-Telegram. He entered the search as a favorite to land the job, and that hasn't changed.Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken will also have a second interview, the source confirmed.Zone Coverage PodcastAfter three days without conducting an interview, the Browns met remotely with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. That brought the number of candidates who have interviewed to eight, as they followed Schwartz, Monken, Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, fired Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde.Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski is scheduled to interview.Kevin Stefanski was fired Jan. 5 after six years with the Browns and remains a popular candidate for the other seven coaching vacancies across the league. That doesn't include the Giants, who are working to finalize a deal with fired Ravens coach John Harbaugh.Minter, 42, has either interviewed or is scheduled to interview with every team in need of a coach.He's in his second year as Chargers coordinator under coach Jim Harbaugh and also worked for John in Baltimore. Minter held the coordinator role with Vanderbilt and then Michigan before following Harbaugh to Los Angeles. He won a national championship in 2023 as the Wolverines led the nation with 10.4 points and 247.0 yards allowed per game.Commentary: Finding a true leader should be priority No. 1 in coaching searchThe Chargers had the No. 1 scoring defense in 2024 and No. 9 this year. They ranked 11th in yards last year and fifth this season.Minter's dad, Rick, has been a coach in college and the NFL for nearly 50 years."Tremendous knowledge of the game," Jim Harbaugh said recently of Jesse Minter. "Great teammate. His ability to motivate. All aspects. Teacher. It's always about the team. There's no ego there. You gotta box to check, check it with Jesse."Scheelhaase 35, was also slated to interview with the Steelers, Ravens and Raiders, according to reports. The Rams play the Bears on Sunday in the divisional round, so the interview with the Browns came during the NFL-allowed window. Virtual interviews are permitted to last up to three hours.In-person interviews with assistants who are under contract can begin Monday, unless their teams are alive for the conference title games.Scheelhaase joined the Rams in 2024 as an offensive assistant and pass game specialist. He was promoted to pass game coordinator this season, and veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is among the favorites to be voted NFL MVP after leading the league with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. He threw only eight interceptions.Scheelhaase was a star quarterback at Illinois and an offensive coordinator at Iowa State.Myles Garrett unanimous selection as first-team All-ProIf Scheelhaase doesn't get a head coaching job with the Browns or another team, he could be a candidate to be coordinator. He doesn't call plays with the Rams under coach Sean McVay."He's a stud," McVay said last offseason after promoting Scheelhaase. "He'll be involved in all parts of the game plan."The great ones do a little bit more and they're just a little more intrinsically motivated and they've got just a little bit better feel on how you deal with people. I think this guy's a special coach and I'm not going to take for granted the time I have with him. I thought it was cool that he chose to stay with us with some other opportunities he had. That meant a lot to me. He is a rising star, without a doubt."The Browns may hope to pair Schwartz as head coach with a young offensive mind like Scheelhaase as coordinator. Schwartz, 59, has a lot of support within the organization, which would like to keep him as coordinator even if he doesn't get the top job.But that's not a guarantee, especially after Schwartz interviewed for the Ravens' head coaching job.Since Schwartz was hired in 2023, the Browns defense ranks first in the NFL in yards, passing yards, first downs, third-down conversions, fourth-down conversions and tackles for loss. It's third in sacks."Great coach," owner Jimmy Haslam said Jan. 5, adding he "absolutely" wants Schwartz to stay."Jim's an outstanding football coach," Berry said. "We have a lot of respect for him, a lot of appreciation for him, and he has certainly earned the right for consideration."A number of players endorsed Schwartz at the end of the season."I have so much love and respect for Coach Schwartz," Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward said. "I would highly recommend Coach Schwartz for a head coaching job. Here, definitely."He's a great coach. He's helped my game tremendously, puts us in great positions, great leader. I can't say enough great things about him. He's a great guy."Monken, 59, was offensive coordinator with the Browns in 2019 during Freddie Kitchens' lone season as coach. He spent the last three seasons with the Ravens and has been a head coach, at Southern Mississippi from 2013-15.He's interviewed for other head coach and coordinator openings and could reunite with John Harbaugh with the Giants.The post Nate Scheelhaase, Jesse Minter interview with Browns; Jim Schwartz, Todd Monken to get second interviews first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.