Story byAndy McNamaraTue, January 20, 2026 at 11:56 PM UTC·2 min readWhy Mike McDaniel just abruptly quit Browns coaching search originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. In a move that certainly sent a shock through the Cleveland front office, offensive mastermind Mike McDaniel has officially hit the "eject" button on his candidacy for the Browns head coaching job. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPer NFL insider Tom Pelissero, McDaniel withdrew his name from consideration just 24 hours before his scheduled in-person interview (second overall interview with the team) on Wednesday. While the "officially official" reason remains under wraps, the rumors are spinning faster than a McDaniel-designed jet sweep. Speculation is mounting that the former Dolphins coach wasn't vibing with the current front office structure under GM Andrew Berry. In Cleveland’s complex hierarchy, the power struggle is real, and a guy known for his quirky, independent genius might have not liked limited roster control under owner Jimmy Haslam's "collaborative" approach.