Hue Jackson, Browns

Hue Jackson hopes to bring his former Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders to the Browns.

(Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hue Jackson is calling upon his old Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders to help him run the offense in Cleveland.

Jackson interviewed Saunders last week and is expected to come on board soon, a league source told cleveland.com.

One of the most respected minds in offensive football, Saunders, 68, served as Jackson's coordinator when he was head coach of the Raiders in 2011. Together, they coaxed 6,072 yards out of the offense -- second most in club history.

They also produced 84 explosive plays of 20 yards or more for second in the NFL, and finished first in two-minute scoring offense.

Jackson and Saunders, the former head coach of the Chargers from 1986-88, also worked together in Baltimore, coaching second-year quarterback Joe Flacco to his second playoff berth in 2009.

CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora first reported the Browns' interest in Saunders.

In Oakland in 2011, Saunders had former Browns quarterback Jason Campbell playing some of the best ball of his career before breaking his collarbone against the Browns. Campbell was 4-2 at the time of the injury, and Saunders was convinced he was a playoff-caliber passer.

Former Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders.

"I've always felt Jason has the ability to be one of the premier quarterbacks in the National Football League,'' Saunders told cleveland.com in 2013. "I've worked with (Hall of Famer) Joe Montana and Kurt Warner and some of truly great ones in the National Football League, and there's only a few guys like that. But Jason has the skills and the personality -- and with the system that he's in right now -- to be able to perform at an elite level.''

Sanders, who came out of retirement in October to serve as interim coach Dan Campbell's senior offensive assistant in Miami after Joe Philbin was fired, has a more impressive resume than almost anyone in football.

He took over for late Hall of Fame finalist Don "Air'' Coryell as head coach of the Chargers in 1986 and served as full-time head coach there in 1987-88.

He also worked under Dick Vermeil in St. Louis, where he was part of the "Greatest Show on Turf'' Super Bowl champions. As associate head coach/receivers, Saunders helped the Rams set NFL records in 2000 in yards (7,075), passing yards (5,232) and points (540).

Saunders, who's been a coordinator for the Chiefs, Redskins, Rams and Raiders, has been a part of 15 playoff teams, five division titles and one Super Bowl championship. On 20 occasions, his offensive units have ranked first in the NFL in either total offense, passing, rushing or scoring.

If all goes as planned, Saunders will come to Cleveland and help his friend get the Browns' offense rolling.

Jackson also interviewed Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton in Cleveland on Tuesday and hopes to lure him away from the Titans, a league source told cleveland.com. Jackson will also nterview Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson to be his running game coordinator this week, likely on Wednesday, a source told cleveland.com. His Vikings contract expired on Tuesday.

Jackson talked to former Lions coach Jim Schwartz last week about being his defensive coordinator, but Schwartz was hired by the Eagles Tuesday for that role.