BEREA, Ohio -- There are challenges, and then, there is the opportunity to turn around the fortunes of an NFL franchise coming off of just the second 0-16 season in league history.
Although looked at as a daunting challenge, Todd Haley jumped at the opportunity to join the Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff as offensive coordinator and embraces the chance to help get the organization heading in the right direction.
“It will be a great challenge and a lot of work, but it’s something that I’m really excited about,” Haley said in his introductory press conference Wednesday. “I’m excited about working with the coaches that are here, and we’re at it right now. And like I said, it will be a lot of work, but it will pay off a bunch, and there is no feeling like it.”
With a season-ending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 31, 2017, the Browns went winless in a 16-game schedule for the first time in franchise history, and their 17th consecutive loss overall dropped the organization to a league-worst 1-31 since the opening game of 2016.
Additionally, the Browns have not won on a Sunday afternoon since December 13, 2015, and those 33 straight Sunday losses are an NFL record.
Last season, the Browns set the record for the worst 28-game stretch in NFL history, as they bested the previous mark of 2-26 set by the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 1976-1977 seasons with a 1-27 showing that got four losses worse after Week 13.
“I think it’s just fundamentals,” Haley said. “Like I said, you’ve got to build a good foundation. The players have to believe in you, that you are putting them in the best position to succeed, and sometimes, there’s factors outside of your control, just from a talent standpoint and things like that.
“If the players you have believe you’re getting them better every day and developing their skill set and their ability to play, and then, putting them in a position to succeed, you have guys that start to believe. It does take some time because it’s a mentality, but I don’t think you sit around and talk about the past. We’ll be moving forward and trying to figure out ways to win games.”
Over the last four-plus years, the Browns have gone 4-49, which is the worst mark in the league in that timespan, and the record has not been much better since Dee and Jimmy Haslam officially purchased the team in October of 2012.
In five seasons under Haslam’s majority ownership, the Browns have posted an NFL-worst 15-65 record. Factoring in the remaining games of the 2012 season after the sale was approved at an NFL Owners Meeting in Chicago that October, the Browns have gone 19-70 under the Haslams.
“Really you've got to just rely on your beliefs and the way that you've been taught through the years, but it's come out, work hard, make sure the players understand you're giving them a chance to succeed, and if you do that, there's generally a pretty good response,” Haley said.
“Teach them how to play smart football, because, obviously, there were a lot of close games last year here, and if you can turn those in your direction, you'll start to create the kind of culture you're looking for.”
