The Cleveland Browns seemed perfectly normal when they hired Kevin Stefanski as their head coach several years ago. He was a highly qualified candidate, young and sharp, with a keen offensive mind. Nothing about his hiring seemed out of place. One would think the team would conduct their search in a similar fashion this time around. Instead, they’ve somehow managed to make the job completely radioactive. Their interview process is so bad that not one, not two, but three candidates have withdrawn their names from consideration. Each one serves as a stark reminder of how solid the Chicago Bears’ process was when pursuing Ben Johnson.
Accounts of what’s happening in Cleveland are straight out of a movie where the nerds think math is the solution to all of their problems. Candidates are required to take a personality test, write an essay, and leave with homework. Treating guys like they’re back in high school doesn’t seem like the smartest tactic if you want to attract the best candidates. The Bears kept things simple. They conducted research on several candidates, met with several of them, and let common sense guide their decision. Johnson was the obvious choice, and they made it their mission to get him.
Ben Johnson serves as a reminder to treat candidates with respect.
Remember, a lot of these guys already have pretty cushy positions elsewhere. They are not desperate for a head coaching job. Treating them like students for a job that is vacant for a reason doesn’t seem like the smartest use of your resources. Cleveland will hire somebody eventually. There is always one candidate who will be willing to put up with such nonsense for the opportunity. However, it is a safe assumption at this point that he won’t be what most consider a premium candidate.
It is crazy to think the Bears have become a more sensible and respected organization after what fans have seen for the past decade. Too many times we’ve watched this team botch coaching searches with bizarre decisions like Marc Trestman and Matt Eberflus. At last, they kept things simple and straightforward. Ben Johnson was the best candidate. They gave him a big contract and plenty of personnel sway. He accepted the job and immediately took them to the playoffs.
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