The Cleveland Browns are on a hurry-up-and-wait schedule as the NFL’s rules keep them from interviewing head coaching candidates. However, no hurdle is big enough, especially not after a season that was as dire as it could get with a 5-12 record. While a close to a dozen names are already in the mix to be Kevin Stefanski’s replacement, the Browns announced two more candidates to that list this Friday.

Their official social media accounts updated that they are interviewing the Los Angeles Chargers‘ defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, and the Los Angeles Rams‘ pass game coordinator, Nate Scheelhaase.

Both Minter and Scheelhaase will interview virtually on Friday, as in-person interviews are not permitted until after the divisional round. And we can see why the Browns don’t exactly want to wait until the weekend.

• Jesse Minter’s work in Los Angeles

42-year-old Minter joined the Chargers in 2024 and immediately stabilized their defense. Los Angeles finished 11th in total defense in his first season, allowing the seventh-fewest passing yards per game at 206.9, as well as the fewest points per game in the league. In 2025, that unit took another step forward.

The team ranked fifth overall while allowing just 285.2 yards per game. They also allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards at 179.9 per game.

Previously, he worked in the NCAA, helping the Wolverines reach the playoffs twice as a defensive coordinator in 2022-2023. They also won a national championship in 2023. He had also worked with the Browns’ divisional rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, for four seasons from 2017-2020. The Ravens secured three postseason berths and back-to-back AFC North Division titles in 2018 and 2019. Meanwhile, Scheelhaase didn’t fail to impress either.

• Nate Scheelhaase’s impact on the LA Rams’ top-ranked offense

Scheelhaase’s rise has been just as notable on the other side of the ball. The 35-year-old joined the Rams as an offensive assistant and pass game specialist in 2024. He helped guide a passing offense that ranked 10th with 3,868 yards, 12th with 11.2 yards per reception, and 13th with 367 completions. Promoted to pass game coordinator in 2025, the results were even louder.

The Rams finished first in the NFL with 4,557 passing yards and averaged 268.1 yards per game through the air. While he doesn’t have another previous NFL stint, he’s made his name shine in college football with the Iowa State Cyclones.

In six seasons with the Cyclones, he had played the role of an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, running backs and wide receivers, and also took on run game coordinator responsibilities from 2021-22.

During his tenure in Ames, the Cyclones appeared in five bowl games and began the season in the AP Top 25 in four of his six seasons. The team had a winning record in five of six seasons, producing three of the most productive offenses in school history since 2019.

With their interviews on January 16, Minter and Scheelhaase joined eight other candidates to interview for the job in Cleveland.

How does the Browns’ search in the hiring cycle looks like

Before them, the Browns spoke with their own coordinators: offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, along with the Cincinnati Bengals OC, Dan Pitcher, the Seattle Seahawks DC, Aden Durde, the Baltimore Ravens‘ OC, Todd Monken, and former Miami Dolphins‘ head coach, Mike McDaniel.

It is noteworthy that while the Browns asked for a second interview with Rees, he did not follow through. As such, it is highly unlikely that he will return to Cleveland in any capacity, head coach or OC. He has had interests from multiple college football teams as well as NFL teams where he may land next. It is also possible that he follows in Stefanski’s path and joins him.

Taken together, Minter and Scheelhaase represent two of the younger, upward-trending candidates in Cleveland’s search. Minter has already drawn interest from all nine teams with head coaching vacancies. Scheelhaase, meanwhile, is also expected to interview with the Ravens and the Las Vegas Raiders.

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For now, the Browns’ decision-making process continues. However, many around the league believe the decision could be influenced by how the organization plans to move forward at quarterback, including the looming Shedeur Sanders factor.

NFL coaches have seemingly made their opinions clear on Shedeur Sanders

The Browns hold two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft. They have a total of nine picks in the next draft. Seemingly, their approach to searching for the next head coach has focused mainly on the offense. No wonder that is the unit that needs the most work, as they finished among the last names in the league this season, with their quarterback duties divided into a veteran before Joe Flacco’s trade and then two rookies.

Of the two, the fifth-round pick in 2025 was still able to help the team with some crucial wins to end the season. However, it did not make as much of an impact for the franchise to call him the face of their offense, something he already understands.

“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now,” Shedeur Sanders said while addressing his future as the Browns’ quarterback. “So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there. But like, that’s not in my hands. Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”

While Sanders remains uncertain about his standing in Cleveland, the Browns’ direction at quarterback appears to be quietly influencing how NFL head-coaching candidates view the job. There’s already a recent example. Before accepting the head-coaching role with the Giants, John Harbaugh reportedly spent time evaluating two rookie quarterbacks. Neither of them was Shedeur.

“John Harbaugh is spending today and the next few days watching film specifically on quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Cam Ward,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini said. “He’s also been in contact with team decision makers, while continuing to communicate with potential members of his own coaching staff.”

This naturally raises the bigger question: how confident are head-coaching candidates about Sanders being the Browns’ long-term answer at quarterback? That’s something Cleveland may not fully resolve before hiring its next head coach. And it could quietly shape how attractive the job looks behind the scenes.