CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gregg Williams orchestrated the greatest turnaround in the history of the Browns when he went 5-3 as the interim coach to close out the year at 7-8-1.

But the turnaround didn’t help him on Wednesday when Freddie Kitchens became the Browns' ninth full-time head coach, which will be officially announced later today. Williams, 60, has been relieved of his defensive coordinator duties, a league source told cleveland.com, and many of his defensive assistants will also be shown the door.

Other coaches have already been told they’re being let go, including quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese, special teams coordinator Amos Jones, offensive line coach Bob Wylie, linebackers coach Blake Williams, assistant defensive backs Jerod Kruse, tight ends coach Greg Seamon, assistant defensive backs coach Jerod Kruse, offensive quality control coach Brian Braswell, offensive assistant Bob Saunders, assistant offensive line coach Mark Hutson, defensive quality control coach Eric Sanders, assistant special teams coach Sam Shade and special teams assistant Josh Cribbs.

The Browns and Cardinals have requested permission to interview Jets running backs coach Stump Mitchell, a source told ESPN’s Josina Anderson.

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Lindley, brought in by Kitchens to coach the running backs after he became coordinator, could be in line for a promotion, possibly to quarterbacks coach or even more.

Receivers coach Adam Henry is expected to stay, as is defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker.

Williams was the first of seven candidates interviewed in this search, but was never believed to have a good chance at the job.

Now, Kitchens will be tasked with filling his defensive staff, and will also make changes on offense.

Williams will likely get another job, and he’ll probably take some of the Browns defensive assistants with him, including his son Blake, the linebackers coach who called plays in the final weeks of the season.

Williams’ defense finished 29th overall, 24th against the rush and 27th against the pass. Where the defense really excelled this year was in takeaways: they were second in the NFL with 30, behind only the Bears’ 36.

Williams, 60, was confident his credentials would stack up heading into the interview.

“What question are you gonna ask me that I haven’t already shown? We’ll see,'' Williams said after the Browns lost 26-24 to the Ravens to close out their season at 7-8-1. "Again, what I’ve also said to you all before, ‘Don’t ever worry about me being afraid to compete.’ So, we will take the next step and see.”

He also felt he might get some other head coaching interviews.

“Yes,’’ he said. “There’s word on the street that, possibly, yes.”

Williams, who went 22-34 as head coach of the Bills from 2001-03, made it clear he’d love a chance to build on what he started here this season. The team played hard for him after both Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley were fired. He galvanized the staff and the players, and came close to knocking the Ravens out of playoff contention. He was also a fan favorite.

Wednesday evening, Williams released the following message to Browns fans: