Odds Stacked Against Bruce Arians Coaching Browns in 2019
- Over the weekend, Bruce Arians said that the only team he would come out of retirement for is the Cleveland Browns
- Books offer prop on whether or not Arians will coach the Browns in 2019
- Will it be Arians or someone else leading Cleveland into the 2019 season?
The fact the NFL stands for ‘Not For Long’ has carried over into retirements. Ever since Brett Favre started yo-yoing back and forth, everyone thinks they can.
Now, could it be Bruce Arians’ turn?
News broke over the weekend that Arians himself said the Browns’ head coaching gig is “the only one he’d consider.” Books have now released a prop regarding his 2019 status.
So is Arians the next man to head up the Browns?
Odds Bruce Arians Coaches the Browns in 2019
| Will Bruce Arians be the Browns’ coach in Week 1 of the 2019 season? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +450 |
| No | -850 |
Cleveland connection runs deep for Bruce Arians
Let’s start with the team Arians wants to come out of retirement for.
Bruce Arians just said if there was one team he’d come out of retirement for it’d be the Cleveland Browns. He also said the Browns have the best fans in the world. #Browns #KCvsCLE
— Brownies News (@BrowniesNews) November 4, 2018
It’s no secret that Arians’ career as an offensive coordinator started in Cleveland. He spent three years there as the OC from 2001-2003.
In his first year, the Browns were the 28th-ranked passing offense and 31st-ranked rushing attack. In his second year? 18th in passing, 23rd in rushing, and a playoff appearance.
The Browns would go 8-8 the following season, miss the playoffs, and Arians was gone.
Those three years, however, showed Arians how passionate the city of Cleveland is about football.
Bruce Arians has the track record to succeed with Browns
| Pittsburgh Steelers Season | Passing Yards | Rushing Yards | Yards per Play | TO% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006+ | 3,733 (9th) | 1,992 (10th) | 5.5 (6th) | 18.1 (4th) |
| 2007 | 3,071 (22nd) | 2,168 (3rd) | 5.2 (17th) | 11.4 (27th) |
| 2008* | 3,301 (17th) | 1,690 (23rd) | 4.9 (24th) | 12.6 (17th) |
+Offensive Coordinator was Ken Whisenhunt
*Won Super Bowl
When you look at Arians from an Xs and Os standpoint, his hiring would make sense.
After leaving the Browns in 2003, Arians went to Pittsburgh. He was the wide receivers coach from 2004-06, and took over as OC in 2007.
While there was a drop off in passing yards in 2007, Arians was able to limit turnovers with a young Ben Roethlisberger. He leaned on the running game more, and created a more efficient offense by dropping the yards per play.
Larry Fitzgerald says Bruce Arians "has always spoken highly of the #Browns" even years ago. Said Arians "loves the city of Cleveland" and he isn't surprised Bruce would want the job. #MNF
— Zac Wassink (@ZacWassink) November 6, 2018
Arians would eventually move on to the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. A year after a 2-14 season, Arians transformed rookie QB Andrew Luck and the Colts’ offense.
Indy gained a total of 4,589 total yards in 2011, with names like Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky, and Kerry Collins leading the offense.
A note on former #Colts coach Chuck Pagano, whom Bruce Arians recently plugged for #Browns and other jobs: Pagano has stayed engaged this year, working with NFL referees as a league consultant, and visited some college camps. Staying ready for next shot.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 7, 2018
The following season (with Arians)? Just five teams in the AFC would outscore the Colts, who put up 4,128 passing yards and 5,799 total yards.
He also stepped in at mid-season for Chuck Pagano as he battled leukemia. Arians went 9-3, becoming the first interim head coach to win Coach of the Year.
Bruce Arians’ experience with Cardinals would benefit Browns
Arians would get his first head coaching gig the next season with the Arizona Cardinals.
After back-to-back playoff appearances, the Cards had gone 18-30 the next three years.
Under Arians? The Cards finished 49-30-1, making the playoffs twice as Arians won Coach of the Year in 2014. They went from 28th in passing and 32nd in rushing under Ken Whisenhunt, to a top ten passing offense in 2015 and 2016.
Will Bruce Arians be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns?
The most interesting thing in this whole situation is that it was Arians who expressed interest in the Browns.
And while the Browns will undoubtedly open their search looking for the next Sean McVay, Arians is well respected throughout the league.
It remains to be seen how Gregg Williams will finish out the season. He has the defense playing as well as it has in years.
But Baker Mayfield needs a mentor.
And Brue Arians wants to be there. If the interest is legit, I think he heads to the top of the Browns’ list of candidates.
YES (+450) Bruce Arians will be the head coach of the Browns in 2019
Bryan has spent the last decade working in the sports industry. From the sidelines in the OHL and Rugby League to behind the scenes at TSN, Bryan has a wealth of experience with a soft spot for props and parlays.
