The Cleveland Browns have made their choice to replace Eric Mangini. Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has been hired to become Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns. Shurmur becomes the 5th head coach the team has had since returning to the NFL in 1999.
According to Tony Grossi, the official press conference will happen tomorrow, with Shurmur set to meet the media.
Shurmur makes perfect sense for the Browns in a number of ways, especially considering none of the 'big name' coaches appear to be returning to the sideline this season. Shurmur was an assistant under Andy Reid in Philadelphia, and Reid learned the west coast offense from Holmgren while both were in Green Bay. It was no secret that Mike Holmgren wanted to bring his preferred offense back to the Browns.
There is also the connection between Browns GM Tom Heckert and Shurmur , with both spending long periods of time in Philadelphia. Shurmer, Holmgren and Heckert also share the same agent - Bob LaMonte.
Shurmur may not be a high-profile name in the public eye, but with Holmgren always available to lean on it could be a great move for the Browns. Holmgren has made it no secret that he misses coaching, and bringing in Shurmur would allow him to get his hands dirty every now and then, without being the full-time head coach.
Shurmur was a center for Michigan State in the 1980's, playing on the same line with Tony Mandarich. His coaching career stated with the Spartans where he worked under current Alabama head coach Nick Saban.