Condoleeza Rice has an impressive resume, but head football coach isn’t on it. Nevertheless, in one of the Browns-est rumors ever, her name’s being thrown around as a candidate for that role with the long-suffering Cleveland Browns.
According to a report from ESPN, a source says the team is interested in interviewing the former Secretary of State. If that were to take place, Rice would become the first woman to interview for an NFL head-coaching job.
This wouldn’t be her first first, of course.
Rice became the first black woman named Secretary of State when she served in the Bush administration, and she was one of the first women to earn a membership to the famously private Augusta National Golf Club.
“She’s an amazing person,” a Browns source told ESPN.
But before Browns fans get too excited — or completely flummoxed — the team issued a statement downplaying the report.
“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,” Browns GM John Dorsey said.
While Rice, 64 years old, has never actually coached a football before, she’s a longtime Browns fan and was also a member of the selection committee for the annual College Football Playoffs.
Former NFL coach Rex Ryan, speaking on ESPN on Sunday morning, pointed to the upside of Rice getting the gig.
“One thing is for sure,” he said, “if Condoleeza Rice is the head coach, she will be the smartest head coach in the NFL the day she takes the job.”
The overwhelming reaction across social media was captured nicely by a deputy managing editor for CBS Sports:
Adam Schefter just reported the Browns are considering interviewing Condoleezza Rice as their next head coach. pic.twitter.com/cwNTQGMYuQ
— Adam Silverstein (@SilversteinAdam) November 18, 2018
One NFL analyst on ESPN says Rice might be able to serve a role in somewhere with the team, but calling the shots on the field? No.
BTW, the idea of Condoleezza Rice as something like "team president" of the Browns, handling financial decisions and interfacing with the community, is not that crazy. Head coach is crazy.
— Aaron Schatz