Ian Rapoport reports that the Browns have been calling around to people who have worked with and know former Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo and it’s possible they could bring him in for an interview this weekend.
The Browns are reportedly interviewing former Cardinals HC Steve Wilks for their defensive coordinator vacancy on Friday.
This is the first reported interest in Spagnuolo this offseason.
Spagnuolo, 59, began his NFL coaching career with the Redskins as a player personnel intern in 1983. After several years coaching college and overseas, Spagnuolo was hired by the Eagles as a defensive assistant in 1999. He worked his way up to LBs coach before departing to become the Giants’ defensive coordinator in 2007.
The Rams would hire Spagnuolo as their head coach a few years later and he spent three seasons in St. Louis before he was fired after the 2011 season.
Spagnuolo had brief stints with the Saints and Ravens before returning to the Giants as their defensive coordinator in 2015. After Ben McAdoo was fired, the Giants promoted him to interim head coach in 2017, but he wound up sitting out the 2018 season.
In 2017, the Giants’ defense ranked No. 31 in yards allowed, No. 27 in points allowed, No. 27 in rushing yards allowed and No. 31 in pass yards allowed.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
Hey Steve! I along with countless other GMEN fans appreciate and thank you for your 2011 SB winning defense and making the playoffs in 2016. But! Maybe you should take a positonal (DL, LB) coaching job before jumping into another DC position. Learn how today’s video game offenses operate from field level. You need lots of speed at all three levels on defense in today’s NFL. Gone are the traditional 4-3 and 3-4 defenses from about 10 years ago. Now! You have 300 pounders that were LBs in high school and college on the dline. You have 225-260lb. former safeties playing LB. And 6’0/200+ pounders former WRs and RBs playing safeties and corners. Get better at all three levels and offensive zone schemes, then comeback for a DC job.
Your ’07 SB winning defense. Fewell was the DC in ’11.