Browns deny rumors on interviewing Condoleezza Rice for head coaching job

As always, the Browns find a way to stay relevant during the bye week.

This morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter unveiled a surprising headline: that the Cleveland Browns will ask to interview Condoleezza Rice for their head coaching job.

A potential interview hardly means the Browns will hire Rice, but they are interested in talking to her about the job and seeing what she could bring to the position and the organization. ”She’s an amazing person,” one Browns source told ESPN. The interview process could even lead to Rice becoming more involved in the organization in an official capacity or as a consultant.

Let’s get one thing out of the way right now: Rice is not going to be the next head coach of the Browns. That has nothing to do with the fact that she is a woman, and everything to do with the fact that she doesn’t have coaching experience.

As Schefter alludes to, though, what this really leans toward is Rice becoming part of the organization. I would even venture to speculate that if she interviewed for the head coaching job, it would also help her gain exposure to how the interview process works at the NFL level.

Benjamin Allbright also believes this type of interview and exposure helps position her better for an eventual push to be the commissioner:

I’ve already heard some crazy calls on the radio from people about Rice and the Browns — what do you think?

UPDATE: GM John Dorsey released the following statement regarding the rumors:

“Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a great leader, possesses the highest possible character and also happens to be a Browns fan. I have the utmost respect and admiration for all she’s accomplished and was honored to meet her for the first time earlier this season. Our coaching search will be thorough and deliberate, but we are still in the process of composing the list of candidates and Secretary Rice has not been discussed.”