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The Cleveland Browns this week hired Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson as their next head coach, and he is wasting no time in getting to work on hiring his coaching staff. One very intriguing name for Colts fans has been linked to the Browns, as ESPN's Tony Grossi reports that former Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton is meeting with Jackson today.
The report doesn't state, however, what role Hamilton might have with the organization if he is brought on board. That probably depends partly on whether Hue Jackson will continue to call plays or not, and rumors have linked Hamilton to both the Browns' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach jobs, so it's unknown what his job would be. It could realistically include both areas, however, especially if Jackson is calling plays.
Hamilton was the Colts' offensive coordinator for two and a half seasons, as he was hired to replace Bruce Arians in 2013 and was fired mid-way through the 2015 season. In 2013, the Colts set a franchise record for the fewest single-season turnovers, while in 2014 the Colts' passing offense led the league. The team finished third in total yards per game and sixth in points per game while Andrew Luck threw for a franchise record 4,761 yards and led the league with 40 touchdowns. He was a head coaching candidate last offseason but remained in Indy, and he took the fall for a disastrous start. The Colts' offense looked out of sorts for much of the year and Andrew Luck was struggling. With pressure mounting and talk of Chuck Pagano's job status swirling, Hamilton was fired following the team's week eight overtime loss on Monday Night Football to the Panthers.
Pep Hamilton is a smart coach who will land on his feet, as even though there were justifiable reasons for his firing, he has been perceived by many as a scapegoat for larger issues. It sounds like he may be getting another chance with the Browns, and hopefully he'll make the most of it and become a hot coaching candidate once again.