The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Hue Jackson last week. The decision came as a surprise to the coach but he was not the only one surprised by moves made last weekend. According to former head coach Sam Rutigliano via Baskin & Phelps, former offensive coordinator Todd Haley expected to be named the interim head coach of the Browns once Jackson was fired.

"Coach Sam Rutigliano spoke with Todd Haley last week and tells us: Haley was blindsided by his firing though he thought there was a good chance Jackson would be axed, and a big reason he came to Cleveland was the opportunity to be eventual head coach."

It was the belief of Cleveland Browns on 247Sports from the beginning that Haley anticipated being named the interim head coach after the team parted ways with Jackson. For a coach that reportedly had other opportunities to be an offensive coordinator in this league, it made no sense to pick the Browns, who, at the time, did not have quarterback Baker Mayfield, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, running back Carlos Hyde, running back Nick Chubb, wide receiver Antonio Callaway and others.

The Steelers parted ways with Haley on Jan. 17 after six seasons in Pittsburgh. Haley has worked with the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs in addition to Pittsburgh. The 50 year old has served as an offensive coordinator for eight seasons with Arizona and Pittsburgh. He was also the Chiefs head coach for three seasons. The 50-year-old Haley was the Cardinals' offensive coordinator during the team's run to Super Bowl XLIII.

Upon being hired, Haley explained what led him to the job.

“I had some options, but this really appealed to me – the challenge aspect of it, Hue like I said, Mr. and Mrs. Haslam and [General Manager] John [Dorsey]. I think there are pieces in place to be successful. I went out to Arizona to be a coordinator, and Arizona had not had much success. A lot of people thought I was crazy for leaving Dallas when I did, but man, when you are a part of turning it around and having success, playing in big games and having success in big games, there is nothing like it. That is what appealed to me – the challenge and the people I was going to be working alongside of.”

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Rutigliano coached the Browns from 1978-1984. The 85 year old was replaced by Marty Schottenheimer. It was his fifth and final stop in the NFL. He compiled a 47-50 record as a head coach. He later coached Liberty for 11 seasons and later in NFL Europe.