Cleveland Browns hire Rob Chudzinski as head coach
Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
on January 10, 2013 at 10:13 PM, updated January 10, 2013 at 10:24 PM
CLEVELAND -- The Browns hired former Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski as their 14th fulltime head coach, a source told the Plain Dealer tonight.
He's also the sixth fulltime head coach since the Browns returned in 1999.
Chudzinski, 44, who was coordinator of the Panthers, interviewed with the Browns in Cleveland on Wednesday in Cleveland. He's expected to bring former Chargers coach Norv Turner as coordinator, a source said. The two are close.
A Toledo native and lifelong Browns fan, "Chud'' joined fellow former Hurricane coach Butch Davis as tight ends coach in 2004, and served as interim offensive coordinator in 2004 after Davis resigned. Chud coached the Chargers tight ends -- including All-Pro Antonio Gates -- in 2005 and 2006, and then returned to Cleveland as offensive coordinator in 2007 under Romeo Crennel.
In his first year as Browns OC, Chud helped the Browns to a 10-6 record and No. 8 ranking on offense. Four of his offensive players went to the Pro Bowl: quarterback Derek Anderson, receiver Braylon Edwards, left tackle Joe Thomas and tight end Kellen Winslow. The following year, the Browns went 4-12, plummeted to 31st on offense and Crennel was fired.
Chudzinski returned to San Diego and served as assistant head coach/tight ends coach in 2009-10. Last season, he was named Panthers' offensive coordinator and guided rookie quarterback Cam Newton to tremendous success. Newton became the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in a single season. The running game was equally effective as the Panthers became the first team in NFL history to have three players with 700 or more yards in the same season.
Last offseason, Chudzinski interviewed with the Jaguars, Rams and Buccaneers for their head coach vacancies.
Details to come.