While most of the focus of the college football world as it relates to NFL head-coaching searches has been on Chip Kelly, there’s another coach from this level who’s drawn his fair share of interest as well.
As previously reported, Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone interviewed for the vacancies with the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns. Those interviews took place over the last couple of days in Arizona, but they won’t be his last.
Jason La Confora of CBSSports.com tweeted Saturday morning that Marrone has interviews scheduled for this coming week with both the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Diego Chargers. La Confora added that the Kansas City Chiefs would’ve been in play for Marrone had they not grabbed ex-Eagles head coach Andy Reid so quickly.
There’s also speculation that the Chicago Bears could be interested, although an interview has yet to be confirmed.
As for why NFL clubs would be hot on the heels of a college coach who’s posted just a 25-25 mark in his four years with the Orange, La Confora writes that "[t]eams looking for offensive-minded head coaches are particularly intrigued.”
The Bills interest in Marrone makes sense on at least a couple of levels, given the proximity of the NFL club to the university as well as the organization’s recent promotion of Russ Brandon to team president. From the Syracuse Post-Standard:
Thanks to the NFL interest, it’s believed Syracuse is working up a “revamped” contract as an enticement to keep Marrone, who played his college football for the Orange.