Now that the Browns have fired head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, everyone is left wondering who will be the next head coach? One name that has been swirling around is Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley.
Riley previously coached Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and led the Sooners to the College Football Playoffs last season.
He addressed the media Monday and, when asked about the Browns job, said that he's not interested in coaching in the NFL "right now."
Lincoln Riley’s full comment on coaching in the NFL and #Browns rumors. #Sooners pic.twitter.com/yE2eesL7Gu
— Dylan Buckingham (@DylanBuckingham) October 29, 2018
Jackson had only been fired about an hour before, so it's interesting Riley "knew" the question was coming.
“You sit here and answer these questions and I always want to be truthful,” he said. “And the truth for me is, I love Oklahoma. I love coaching here. I love college football. I certainly don’t have that itch right now. I don’t know if I ever will.”
Riley didn’t rule out a jump in the future. For now, he’s focused on leading the seventh-ranked Sooners against Texas Tech on Saturday.
“I’m never going to be a guy that’s going to stand up here and say no way, no how will any of these things ever happen,” he said. “I don’t know that. I know right now I could care less about the NFL. We’re trying to win this game and trying to make a run that we all think we have in us right now.”
The 35-year-old Riley is considered one of the rising stars in coaching. He got a new five-year, $25 million deal this summer.
Other names that are the subject of speculation include Browns interim coach Gregg Williams, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
