Cleveland Browns News: Front Office Wants To Interview Condoleezza Rice To Fill Head Coaching Job?

In one of the most out-of-the-box ideas to float around the sports world in quite some time, ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter said on Sunday that the Cleveland Browns would consider interviewing former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice to fill their head coaching vacancy.

However, as quick as the news broke it was just as quickly shot down.

General manager John Dorsey claims that the Browns have had no discussions about hiring Rice.

"Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a great leader, possesses the highest possible character and also happens to be a Browns fan," Dorsey said in a statement. "I have the utmost respect and admiration for all she’s accomplished and was honored to meet her for the first time earlier this season. Our coaching search will be thorough and deliberate, but we are still in the process of composing the list of candidates and Secretary Rice has not been discussed."

Dorsey has, however, stated that he is open to hiring a woman as head coach. There has never been a woman to serve as an offensive or defensive coordinator.

Rice, 64, has never served as a coach at any level.

Schefter noted that Rice could perhaps serve in a consulting role for the Browns. In September, Rice was spotted on the field talking with owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam during a game.

"She's an amazing person," a source from the Browns told ESPN.

Rice served as secretary of state under President George W. Bush from 2005 through 2009 and also served as Bush's national security advisor. She obtained a master's degree in political science from Notre Dame.

Rice is no stranger to sports. From 2013 to 2016, she served as one of the first members of the College Football Playoff selection committee. She also recently led a commission to adopt changes to clean up college basketball corruption.

Rice's name had also been floated as a possible replacement for Roger Goodell as NFL Commissioner.

The Browns, meanwhile, have a history of making unconventional hires. In 2016, Cleveland hired former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta to serve as the team's chief strategy officer.