Mike Singletary was, for reasons unknown, reportedly in Cleveland last week interviewing for a position with the Browns that has yet to be divulged.
https://twitter.com/WillBurge/status/930139740011159555
Singletary is one of the NFL’s most legendary linebackers and a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. He’s also an underrated linebackers coach who tried his hand at being a head coach with the San Francisco 49ers from 2008-10, when he tallied a record of 18-22 before being replaced by Jim Tomsula for one game at the end of 2010 and then Jim Harbaugh, who was hired in 2011.
Nobody would say Singletary was particularly effective during his tenure with the 49ers, but he’s coached some awesome linebacker groups in the past with San Francisco and Baltimore, where he coached Ray Lewis and Co. from 2003-04. After taking a couple years off between 2014-15, Singletary was a defensive assistant with Jeff Fisher’s Los Angeles Rams last season.
The defensive coordinator last year in Los Angeles was Gregg Williams, who’s now the lead defensive coach in Cleveland. So perhaps Singletary is looking to hop on board and help Williams out once again.
He’s best known as a coach for a legendary rant he had after sending Vernon Davis to the locker room during a blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in 2008.
“I will not tolerate players that think it’s about them when it’s about the team,” Singletary said. “We cannot make decisions that cost the team and then come off to the sideline and its nonchalant! No. You know what? This is how I believe. I’m from the old school. I believe this: I would rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we gotta do something else. Rather than play with 11, when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team. It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can’t do it. I want winners! I want people that wanna win!”
Obviously, the Browns have had a hard time winning. Since Hue Jackson took over in 2016 the franchise has gone 25-1. So it couldn’t hurt to bring in someone who can spit fire and put the fear of God into players like Singletary can.