The Cleveland Browns are in search of a new head coach and general manager John Dorsey says he's looking for the best person for the job -- emphasis on person.
“I just want the best possible head coach to move this thing forward regardless of age. It could be a woman, too. Do not look at me like that. I am serious. Who knows? We will look at everything is what I am trying to tell you all," Dorsey said.
Numerous women have moved into decision-making positions in men's professional sports in recent years. Becky Hammon is on Gregg Popovich's coaching staff with the San Antonio Spurs. A year ago, the Buffalo Bills hired Kathryn Smith as a quality control assistant, making her the first woman hired to a full-time coaching position in NFL history. This past offseason, the Oakland Raiders hired Kelsey Martinez to their strength staff and the San Francisco 49ers hired Katie Sowers as an offensive assistant.
As Pro Football Talk notes, women are the controlling owners of five NFL teams, with more on the way in the future.
But we're years, decades away from a woman as a head coach of an NFL team -- if it happens at all. Dorsey knows that, evidenced by the pronoun he uses when talking about the eventual Browns head coach here.
"As you go through the interview process, you’ll be able to see what really is in his soul and in his fiber, how deep of a knowledge does he have, what type of people does he surround himself with," Dorsey told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. "I’ve been in the league a lot of years and I know a majority of the coaches, not only in the college ranks, but in the professional ranks, both as head coaches, position … I’ll know most of who he’s talking about and then you’ll see how it all unfolds."