The Cleveland Browns, looking for a new head coach after firing Rob Chudzinski at the conclusion of his first season, are "very interested" in interviewing Auburn's Gus Malzahn, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora. Vanderbilt's James Franklin also appears to be a top target.
Yes, you read that correctly. Cleveland might want to get on the Gus Bus.
Some believe Malzahn is actually the most likely of the group to land the position, though the process is still very much in its early stages.
Malzahn, who will compete for the national title next week, is viewed by some as the candidate who has most captured the imagination of the organization right now, and, while he has flown under the radar of most NFL coaching searches to this point, he is very much under consideration by the Browns.
If Cleveland really is interested in Malzahn and offers him the job, it's hard to imaging the head coach staying in Auburn. He seems happy on the Plains and just agreed to a new contract, but one has to think he'd want a chance to prove himself at football's highest level. Hopefully, the Browns will look elsewhere.
The idea that Gus could already have NFL interest seems absurd, but La Canfora is usually reliable in his reporting. We'll have to keep an eye on this one.