Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh isn't the only San Francisco 49ers assistant coach the Cleveland Browns plan to interview for their vacant head-coaching job. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the team also plans to interview 49ers passing-game coordinator Mike LaFleur.
49ers' passing-game coordinator Mike LaFleur, the younger brother of Packers' HC Matt LaFleur, is expected to interview this weekend for Browns' head-coaching job, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2019
Schefter also adds that 49ers run-game coordinator, Mike McDaniel, could interview with the Browns. Although, no official request has been submitted yet. Schefter also does not specifically state that the Browns are interested in McDaniel for the head-coaching job.
49ers' run game coordinator Mike McDaniel also likely to interview with Browns, per source, though nothing set up just yet.
So the Browns could go to SF and interview Saleh, McDaniel and Mike LaFleur all in the same weekend.
Three 49ers coaches being eyed by the Browns.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2019
Mike LaFleur, who is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, is in his third season with San Francisco. He previously worked with Kyle Shanahan in 2015 and 2016 when the 49ers head coach was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. LaFleur worked with the Falcons tight ends in his first year in Atlanta and then worked with the receivers in 2016.
He entered the NFL in 2014 as an offensive coaching intern with the Browns.
Matt LaFleur and the Packers, along with the Browns and Minnesota Vikings, tried to interview Mike LaFleur after the 2018 season for other positions. Shanahan and the 49ers denied those requests. The head coach later explained that he blocked the requests because it was not seen as a promotion for LaFleur, who was not being considered for a position where he would be given play-calling responsibilities.
McDaniel also drew interest from other teams, like the Arizona Cardinals, after the 2018 season. Requests to interview the 49ers run-game coordinator were also denied. McDaniel, like LaFleur, is in his third season with San Francisco.
McDaniel served as the 49ers' run game specialist in 2017 and became the run-game coordinator in 2018. He came from Atlanta, where he worked two years with Shanahan as an offensive assistant. Before then, McDaniel served as the wide receivers coach for both the Browns and Washington Redskins.