As the Browns continue their extensive head coaching search, they have scheduled a second interview with Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.
Pettine appears to be the most qualified for the job as head coach for the Cleveland Browns, as he owns an impressive resume. Unlike former head coaches and recent candidates, Mike’s storied past reflects unwavering success.
This would not be Pettine’s first head coaching job; as he had been a successful head coach at William Tennent High School and North Penn, both schools in Pennsylvania, achieving 45 wins in five seasons.
In 2001, his last season as head coach for North Penn, he made the leap of faith into the NFL, becoming an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens before being promoted to outside linebackers coach.
From 2002 to 2008, Pettine had been significant to the successes of some of the NFL’s most dominant defenses as well as a linebacker group that was arguably the best in the league. In 2009, Rex Ryan was hired by the New York Jets to be their head coach and he took Pettine with him as his defensive coordinator. Rex Ryan had been the Ravens defensive coordinator from 1999 till 2008.
The Jets defense under Pettine were some of best in the NFL, began a downward spiral during the 2010 season, for which they never regained their footing, but the offense and poor quarterback play is largely responsible.
The 2013-14 season saw Pettine take over the same responsibilities at Buffalo, taking a defense ranked 22nd in the league a year before, to 10th overall. He brought with him an aggressive defense that ranked second in the league in sacks and interceptions.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said in his press conference upon the announcement of firing Rob Chudzinski, that he wants a proven winner, and a head coach who can lead – based on his past successes in North Penn, New York and Baltimore, Pettine certainly answers both.