AP source: Browns pick coordinator Kitchens as next coach

The Browns didn't have to go far to find their new coach.

Freddie Kitchens was already in the building.

The 44-year-old Kitchens, who had a dazzling eight-week run as interim offensive coordinator, is finalizing a contract to become Cleveland's ninth coach since the franchise's 1999 rebirth, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting on the imminent hire.

As of late Wednesday night, the Browns still had not officially announced Kitchens as their coach.

However, there are no obstacles blocking his hiring and he's expected to be introduced at a press conference on Thursday.

ESPN was first to announce the decision.

Also, Gregg Williams, who went 5-3 as Cleveland's interim coach and defensive coordinator this season, is no longer with the team, the person said. Williams was the first candidate to interview for the coaching vacancy.

Kitchens has no previous head coaching experience, but his work with Cleveland's offense — most notably quarterback Baker Mayfield — in the season's second half vaulted him ahead of the other six candidates interviewed by the Browns, who were looking for the right coach to lead them following a stunning turnaround season.

Kitchens will get the chance.

Under his leadership, Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, threw 19 of his NFL rookie record 27 touchdown passes while erasing any doubt that he could be the coveted franchise quarterback that has eluded the Browns for decades.

Kitchens and Mayfield formed a strong relationship during their time together, and Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam along with general manager John Dorsey are counting on the pair taking Cleveland to new heights.

It's a spectacular rise for Kitchens, who began the season as the team's running backs coach. He took over the Browns offense when coordinator Todd Haley was fired an hour after coach Hue Jackson's dismissal on Oct. 29 and Kitchens quickly showed he had coaching chops.

He revamped the offensive scheme, using multiple formations and tweaking the game plan to include calls that he knew his players were comfortable running. Kitchens, who was a three-year starting quarterback at Alabama, wasn't afraid to be creative as he used wide receiver Jarvis Landry on running plays and to throw passes, and he got major production from rookie running back Nick Chubb, left tackle Greg Robinson and receiver Breshad Perriman — three players under-utilized by Jackson and Haley.

Kitchens and Williams kept their players focused and motivated following the mid-season coaching change and the Browns went 7-8-1 following an 0-16 season in 2017 under Jackson.

As the team's success grew, Kitchens never campaigned to be Cleveland's coach but leading a team was always a goal.

"Definitely. No doubt," he said. "I heard the other day somebody say something about I wasn't ready to be a head coach. I mean, who the hell's ready to be a head coach? You have a resume that you check off the list and everything?"

The barrel-chested Kitchens became a fan favorite in a city that loves underdogs.

"I like it here and I like it here a lot, and everybody around here knows that I like it here," Kitchens said last month. "I love the town of Cleveland. Cleveland and I get along well."

Kitchens is the fourth coach hired by the Haslams since they bought the team in 2012.

AP source: Broncos pick Vic Fangio as new head coach

Forget RPOs. John Elway is going with AARP.

The Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, 60, has accepted Elway's offer to become the Denver Broncos' next head coach, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Broncos didn't announce the hiring, something the team won't do until Fangio signs his contract. He's expected to be introduced as the club's 17th head coach on Thursday.

Fangio replaces Vance Joseph , who was fired on New Year's Eve after posting the franchise's first back-to-back losing seasons since the early 1970s.

Fangio and Elway, who turns 59 this summer, will make up one of the oldest coach-GM duos in the NFL in 2019.

Although Fangio, who turns 61 in August, has no NFL head coaching experience, he has been an assistant for 32 years in the NFL and 34 seasons overall, beginning with the Philadelphia Stars of the old USFL in 1984.

Just like former Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, Fangio relates to players less than half his age and commands a deep respect in the locker room.

"You're talking about one of the best coaches in football," Bears star edge rusher Khalil Mack said recently, dubbing Fangio "the evil genius himself."

Elway said when he began his search for his fourth head coach in six seasons that he values experience but also recognizes the need to modernize the Broncos' offensive and defensive schemes to keep up with the run-pass option craze that has swept through the NFL and rendered traditional systems antiquated.

Elway didn't believe that innovation necessitated a young, up-and-coming head coach, however. So, instead of going with a fresh-faced offensive-minded novice in the mold of the Rams' Sean McVay, he zeroed in on the grizzled gridiron lifer who's more like his first head coaching hire, John Fox, or even the Chiefs' Andy Reid.

Joseph was also a first-time head coach with deep defensive roots, but he lacked the lengthy resume Fangio brings. Whereas Joseph had just one year of experience as a coordinator, Fangio brings 19 years of coordinating experience for the Panthers, Colts, Texans, 49ers and Bears.

He's built dominant defenses in different eras, successfully adapting to changes in personnel, philosophies and style.

The 2018 season was his best as Fangio guided a Bears defense that ranked No. 1 in the NFL, allowed a league-low 17.7 points per game and led the Bears into the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

In addition to Mack, who joined the Bears in a trade from Oakland, three other Bears defenders were selected to the Pro Bowl under Fangio's watch in 2018: safety Eddie Jackson, lineman Akiem Hicks and cornerback Kyle Fuller.

Fangio was available to take over in Denver sooner than expected because of the Bears' stunning 16-15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round last weekend. Eagles defensive lineman Treyvon Hester tipped Cody Parkey's last-second field-goal attempt that clanked off the left upright and the crossbar.

Several Bears players were hoping the Broncos would choose one of Elway's other candidates — Steelers O-line coach Mike Munchak, ex-Colts coach Chuck Pagano, Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores or Rams QBs coach Zac Taylor.

When word got out that Elway had chosen Fangio, Bears cornerback Prince Amukamar a tweeted the hashtag "curse words" and Chicago wide receiver Allen Robinson II tweeted the broken heart emoji.

Fangio inherits a Broncos team that's coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1971-72, a hard fall for a franchise that was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy just three years ago thanks to Von Miller's MVP performance in Super Bowl 50.

Peyton Manning retired a month later and the Broncos have cycled through four starting quarterbacks since, including free agent Case Keenum, who was underwhelming during Denver's 6-10 season that included two four-game skids.

Elway said last week that personnel assistant and former Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak will move back into an offensive assistant coaching role in Denver in 2019. Kubiak stepped aside over health concerns a year after guiding Denver to its third Super Bowl victory.

Last month, Miller suggested that a defense can still lead a team to a title like Denver's did three years ago even in this age of potent offenses incorporating college concepts and running up scores.

"The Bears have been doing it right. They get takeaways, they play tight coverage and they got a great run defense," Miller said. "I feel like the Bears definitely got a defense that can go all the way."

Instead, the Bears' season ended earlier than expected, and now the man Mack dubbed an "evil genius" will join Miller in Denver.

Suspended Clemson DT Lawrence among 3 Tigers off to NFL

Suspended Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is headed to the NFL.

Lawrence is the 350-pound, 6-foot-4 lineman who missed the Tigers' College Football Playoff games after he and two teammates tested positive for the banned substance ostarine. Lawrence attended both games and celebrated with teammates Monday night after a 44-16 victory over Alabama in the national championship game.

Lawrence announced his decision on Twitter Wednesday.

He was a three-year starter and is considered a first-round NFL pick in next spring's draft.

He is the third Clemson starter on defense to give up his eligibility to go pro. Earlier, cornerback Trayvon Mullen and linebacker Tre Lamar said they would enter the NFL draft. Mullen was the defensive MVP of the championship game.

Things did not end the way Lawrence wanted as he sat out wins over Notre Dame and the Crimson Tide after his drug test results. Lawrence and reserve offensive lineman Zach Giella and tight end Braden Galloway were each suspended the final two games.

All asked Clemson to appeal the NCAA suspension and could've faced a yearlong ban if turned down. Lawrence was likely turning pro even without the issues. Now, he'll face the questions of future NFL employers.

Lawrence said before the Cotton Bowl he did not knowingly take the banned substance.

"I honestly don't know what happened or how it got in," he said before the Cotton Bowl. "It's just there."

Lawrence said in his announcement Wednesday that he was grateful for the "adversities and storms I went through here at Clemson. It has helped make me who I am today."

He finished with 7.5 tackles for loss this season and tied for team high with seven quarterback hurries. Lawrence was also part of Clemson's "Fridge Package" on offense with All-American defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in short-yardage situations.

Lawrence had a TD run in a 77-16 blowout of Louisville this season.