Browns Name Carson to Be New Head Coach

Bud Carson, the architect of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Steel Curtain defense during the late 1970s, was named Friday as coach of the Cleveland Browns, replacing Marty Schottenheimer.

Carson, 57, signed a 3-year contract for his first National Football League head coaching job and said he welcomed the pressure that comes with taking charge of a winning team. The Browns were 10-6 this season and have been to the playoffs 4 straight years.

“I think this is a very choice job,” said Carson, defensive coordinator for the New York Jets since 1985. “There aren’t many people lucky enough to step into a situation like this.”

The Browns did not disclose terms of his contract, though a source said the first year would pay Carson about $400,000--the same as Schottenheimer made this season. Raises and incentive bonuses are included in subsequent years.

Schottenheimer quit the Browns on Dec. 27 after refusing owner Art Modell’s demands that he relinquish his duties as offensive coordinator and fire some of his assistants. He was hired as coach by the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday.

Carson said he had no qualms about accepting a job upon which Modell had placed certain conditions, including the promotion of quarterbacks coach Marc Trestman to offensive coordinator and little or no input in the Browns’ draft.

“I’m not going in with all my hands tied behind me,” Carson said. “Art has hired an offensive coordinator I can live with. My role will be to set the philosophy. And I’m going to stay very close to the defense. I’m not going to throw away all the things I’ve learned.”

Carson said he would hire a defensive coordinator. The Browns plan to interview former Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Tony Dungy for that job next week.

Carson was one of five defensive coordinators who received serious consideration for the head coaching job. Also interviewed were Fritz Shurmur of the Rams, Vince Tobin of the Chicago Bears and Floyd Peters of the Minnesota Vikings. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator George Seifert was on his way to Cleveland before being called back and hired as the 49ers’ head coach.

Tobin had dropped out of the running by last week, and Peters withdrew his name even earlier, leaving Carson and Shurmur as the finalists. Carson apparently won the job because of his experience in the American Football Conference.