New head coach Freddie Kitchens is looking to round out his coaching staff with the Cleveland Browns. That might include Jim Bob Cooter.
Per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Cooter is expected to interview for Cleveland’s offensive coordinator job. The job was left vacant when Kitchens was named head coach.
Former #Lions OC Jim Bob Cooter is slated to interview for the #Browns OC job, source said. His work with Matthew Stafford during the 2017 season stands out. Now, potentially Baker Mayfield.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2019
Cooter was previously the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2015-2018. He was not retained after the 2018 season.
Cooter’s offenses in Detroit had some flaws. He could have done a much better job of developing a running game. But we can absolutely see why a Cleveland team looking to further develop Baker Mayfield at quarterback would be interested in Cooter.
Excluding 2010, when Stafford played only three games and threw one pick, four of Stafford’s best five career seasons at avoiding interceptions came under Cooter’s watch. Stafford’s four highest completion percentage seasons all came under Cooter, as well.
Whether that would translate to Mayfield remains to be seen. But the positive signs with this potential pairing are pretty obvious.