(Updated) CLEVELAND (AP) — Pat Shurmur’s first head coaching gig is a big one.
The
Cleveland Browns hired St. Louis’ offensive coordinator on Thursday,
ending a search for their fifth coach since 1999 that began when Eric
Mangini was fired on Jan. 3. Shurmur was the first candidate interviewed
by Browns president Mike Holmgren.
Chris Palmer, Butch Davis,
Romeo Crennel and Mangini each failed in trying to build a consistent
winner in Cleveland’s expansion era. Now, it’s Shurmur’s turn. The
45-year-old, whose uncle, Fritz, worked under Holmgren in Green Bay,
will take over a team that has made just one playoff appearance in 13
years.
Mangini was fired after his second 5-11 season.
The Browns will introduce Shurmur as their 13th coach Friday in a news conference at their Berea, Ohio,
headquarters.
Although
he promised a "wide" coaching search, Holmgren is only known to have
met with Shurmur, Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and New
York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Interviews with
potential candidates Jon Gruden and John Fox never got past an
exploratory phone call.
Shurmur emerged as the front-runner in recent days and no one caught him.
He
has deep connections with Cleveland’s front office. He spent eight
years working with Browns general manager Tom Heckert. Shurmur never
worked directly with Holmgren, but he learned the West Coast offense
under Andy Reid, one of Holmgren’s closest friends.
"I have the
utmost respect for Coach Holmgren and Tom Heckert, and I am impressed
with the direction in which they have this franchise going," Shurmur
said. "I have known Tom for most of my pro coaching career, and while we
were in Philadelphia, he and I developed an outstanding relationship.
"I
am looking forward to this challenge and can’t wait to get started in
helping to build the Browns back to one of the elite teams in the NFL."
Shurmur’s
agent, Bob LaMonte, who also represents Holmgren and Heckert, arrived
Thursday to finalize a contract and the sides only needed a few hours to
work out details.
When Holmgren began his first coaching search
as an NFL executive, he promised head coaching experience would not be a
requirement for Mangini’s successor. He kept his word.
"Pat is a
bright, young man who grew up in football and around the coaching
profession," Holmgren said. "I came away from our interview very
impressed with him as a person, his extensive knowledge of the game and
his track record of success as an assistant coach in this league.
"Most
importantly, I feel as though he possesses the necessary qualities
which make him the right man to lead our football team."
Shurmur’s
hiring won’t trigger any wild celebration or a rush to the box office
by Browns fans, who have to trust Holmgren’s keen eye for coaching
talent. Holmgren, after all, was the one who hired an up-and-coming
Gruden and Reid.
Shurmur has a knack for developing young quarterbacks, and the Browns have a promising one in Colt McCoy.
This
season, Shurmur helped Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford live up to being the
No. 1 overall draft pick. Bradford set rookie records for completions
and attempts. He also led St. Louis to a 7-9 record — they were 1-15 a
year earlier — while throwing for 3,512 yards.
Before joining the
Rams, Shurmur spent 10 seasons in Philadelphia, eight of them working
with Heckert. Shurmur coached the club’s tight ends and then their
quarterbacks, turning a raw Donovan McNabb into one of the game’s best
all-around quarterbacks.
One of Holmgren’s goals was to find a
coach who could help groom McCoy, who showed great promise after being
thrown into the starter’s role last season.
