BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns could get word from Mike Holmgren on the radio.
The Super Bowl-winning coach is scheduled to appear on Seattle’s KJR on Friday, when he may announce his future plans. Holmgren spent two days earlier this week meeting with Cleveland owner Randy Lerner, who wants the former Seattle and Green Bay coach to run his team’s football operations.
Lerner is seeking a “serious, credible leader” to take over his struggling franchise’s front office and has targeted Holmgren, who served as the Seahawks coach and general manager for four years.
The 61-year-old Holmgren spent Monday and Tuesday in Cleveland with his agent, but left without accepting a deal, fueling speculation that he may want to weigh other options. One of them could be returning to the Seahawks, who have yet to begin their formal search for a general manager and may or may not have interest in bringing Holmgren back.
On Thursday, the Browns said they have not discussed salary with Holmgren, who made $7 million last season as Seattle’s coach.
Browns coach Eric Mangini’s fate could be tied to Holmgren or whomever Lerner hires.
To this point, Mangini’s first season in Cleveland has not gone well and he could be fighting for his job over the final three weeks. Mangini, who was fired after last season by the New York Jets, is confident that he has made progress with the Browns, who take a 2-11 record into Sunday’s game at Kansas City.
“I’ve been a head coach for four years now — different places, different experiences, different players,” he said. “I feel good about the things that I’ve done in that role and there’s a body of work there. Each situation is different. Anybody that comes in can evaluate that. I feel really good about the things that I’ve done in this role. Has it always produced the results that you wanted? No, because the goal is to win every game.
“You make decisions as you go and you continue to improve and progress.”
Mangini and Holmgren have known each other for a few years, and they got a chance to get reacquainted during Holmgren’s visit this week. Mangini would not say if he wanted Holmgren to accept Cleveland’s front-office job.
“I don’t want to get into that component of it,” he said. “What I will say is, I want someone to come here that can help us improve, that can be part of giving the city of Cleveland what they deserve, which is a consistent winner year in and year out and a team that they can be proud of on the field and off the field. That’s what I believe in.”
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