Advertisement

Browns Pick Belichick as New Coach

Share
From Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns today made Bill Belichick the NFL’s youngest coach, hiring the New York Giants defensive coordinator to resurrect the Browns from the rubble of last season.

Belichick, 38, was given a five-year contract to replace Bud Carson, who was fired Nov. 5 after the Browns lost seven of their first nine games.

“It gives me a great deal of pride and pleasure to be a part of this organization,” Belichick said. “I’m tremendously proud to be here. The interest here is tremendous, as it is with the team I was with, the New York Giants.”

Advertisement

Former offensive coordinator Jim Shofner finished the season as interim coach but took his name out of the running because he was unable to halt the team’s slide.

Cleveland’s 3-13 mark was the worst in the franchise’s 41-year NFL history, a shocking turnaround after five straight trips to the playoffs.

Belichick’s prospects of becoming a head coach were enhanced by the Giants’ defensive performance last season, including their 20-19 victory over Buffalo in the Super Bowl.

Browns owner Art Modell chose Belichick over several candidates, including Raiders quarterbacks coach Mike White, former Rams defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur, Seattle special teams coach Rusty Tillman and Kansas City defensive coordinator Bill Cowher.

“Prior to taking this job I had very lengthy discussions with Art and other front office members,” Belichick said. “I feel very comfortable with Art and how the organization works and I feel we can win with it.”

Belichick, who attended Wesleyan University, began his NFL coaching career as an assistant with Baltimore in 1975. He moved to Detroit as an assistant in 1976, then went to Denver in 1978 before joining the Giants under Ray Perkins in 1979. He remained in New York when Bill Parcells took over as the Giants’ head coach in 1983.

Advertisement

Last season, the Raiders’ Art Shell, 44, was the youngest coach in the NFL.

Advertisement