Marty Mornhinweg Officially a Head Coaching Candidate, and Examining Potential Successors

Share

Round and round the coaching carousel goes. While Andy Reid keeps on showing up for work these last 12 years and still going strong, a handful of NFL coaches haven't even made it past two. One such coach is Eric Mangini in Cleveland, who finds himself out of work again after a pair of 5-11 finishes. Now it's reported another man who knows something about two-and-outs, Marty Mornhinweg, could be the front-runner to replace him.

Mornhinweg's star has been resurrected since joining the Eagles' staff. As head coach of the Detroit Lions, he managed to win five games in two full seasons. Some of that is because it was, you know, the Lions, but he also once famously chose the wind instead of the ball after winning the coin toss in overtime. That kind of thing can make it hard to be taken seriously as a potential head coaching candidate in the future.

Mornhinweg became the Birds' offensive coordinator after Brad Childress departed in 2006, and since then has developed the most prolific offense in franchise history. They surpassed the club record for scoring for the third consecutive season, which is especially impressive considering the change at quarterback. Due to his success, it really isn't a surprise to see his name back in the conversation, but why Cleveland?

The Browns' front office went through a restructuring last off-season, hiring Reid's mentor Mike Holmgren as President and former Eagles General Manager Tom Heckert for the same role. Mornhinweg also worked under Holmgren and was the quarterbacks coach when the Packers won the Super Bowl in 1996. He obviously knows Heckert as well, so there is a level of familiarity between the three men that could give Marty the edge.

Sources are now acknowledging the Browns have requested an interview with Mornhinweg. They may not have needed to make a formal request at all if the Birds don't beat the Packers this Sunday, nor would any other NFL team searching for a head coach. The fact is, the Eagles probably need to prepare for life without him in the immediate or near future, one way or another.

One popular theory had Childress returning to Philadelphia after his firing in Minnesota. Reid even embraced the idea, welcoming his former understudy with open arms. Such a situation would be unique however. While disgraced head coaches sometimes go back to work under their students, the pupils rarely, if ever, go back to work for their old master. How would that look? Sort of like it was the only job he could get.

The most likely candidate to replace Mornhinweg if/when he is hired away might be current quarterbacks coach James Urban. Urban joined the Eagles as an assistant in 2004, and has been climbing the coaching ranks ever since. He became much more widely known this season for the work he did with Michael Vick in the off-season, which was said to be highly influential in the quarterback's incredible transformation.

It's not just Vick either. Last season, Donovan McNabb posted his highest passer rating since 2004. Urban has also worked with Kevin Kolb, who many observers believe can be a quality starting quarterback in the NFL. His resume is growing, and the offensive coordinator position looks like the logical next step.

Andy could also go outside the organization, but that seems unnecessary with a talented in-house option. Who knows, Marty could interview and not wind up getting any jobs... this time at least. With such strong ties inside the Browns organization though, and rumors as far back as a year ago Cleveland would be his eventual landing spot, it's looking like his run in Philly is coming to its end.

>> Source: Browns plan to interview Mornhinweg [CSN]

Contact Us