**Dramatic Twist in Browns’ Coaching Search as Buffalo Bills Request Mid-Interview Meeting with Nate Scheelhaase**
CLEVELAND, Ohio — In a dramatic twist that perfectly captures the high-stakes world of NFL coaching searches, the Browns’ marathon interview with coaching candidate Nate Scheelhaase took an unexpected turn when news broke that the Buffalo Bills had requested to interview him right in the middle of his meeting with the Browns.
Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot described the pivotal moment on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast:
> “In the middle of this lengthy, lengthy Browns interview where they’re probably getting pretty close to deciding that maybe this could be our guy, he gets a second interview request from the Buffalo Bills.”
The timing couldn’t have been more intriguing or potentially strategic. After flying to Los Angeles to meet with Scheelhaase following the NFC Championship game, Browns executives had been with him for approximately six hours when the Bills’ request broke.
This sudden request instantly created a leverage situation that could impact contract negotiations, urgency, and the entire dynamic of the Browns’ coaching search.
Cabot didn’t shy away from suggesting there could be more at play than mere coincidence.
> “Some of this could be gamesmanship that’s going on. Gamesmanship,” she noted during the podcast, implying this might be a calculated move by Scheelhaase’s representation to create additional leverage in negotiations with Cleveland.
The Bills, with franchise quarterback Josh Allen firmly in place, represent an attractive alternative for any coaching candidate concerned about the Browns’ uncertain quarterback situation. Buffalo’s interest in Scheelhaase — a rising offensive star despite having been in the NFL for only two years — creates a competitive atmosphere that might force the Browns to make a stronger offer.
But if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam truly wants Scheelhaase, history suggests he may not be deterred by competition.
Cabot recalled Haslam’s acquisition of Deshaun Watson:
> “Jimmy Haslam is a closer. Jimmy’s a closer. And what happened when Deshaun Watson was not coming here to Cleveland? What happened to him? Jimmy wrote an enormous check and got it done.”
She added with confidence:
> “When Jimmy wants something, Jimmy’s going to get it. And if he wants Nate Scheelhaase, I think he’ll get him.”
The chess match continues as the Browns must decide how much they believe in Scheelhaase’s potential. If they view him as the next Sean McVay — truly special — they might be willing to go all-in despite the Bills’ interest.
However, if he is seen as merely one good option among several, including defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, the Browns may be less inclined to engage in a bidding war.
This high-wire negotiation reveals the complex psychological dance that occurs during coaching searches. As Cabot explained, these situations often require “some tension” and “the 11th hour deal making” that can either lead to a successful hire or push a team to move in another direction entirely.
For Browns fans watching anxiously, the next 24 hours could reveal whether Scheelhaase truly becomes their next head coach — or if this dramatic Buffalo Bills plot twist sends the search in an entirely new direction.
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**Listen to the full podcast here:** [Orange and Brown Talk Podcast]
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2026/01/bills-swoop-in-during-browns-interview-inside-the-high-stakes-drama-of-nate-scheelhaases-marathon-meeting.html