Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is again interviewing to become coach of the Cleveland Browns, his third go-around with the team he grew up watching as a kid.

McDaniels was a candidate for Cleveland's job in 2009 when it went to Eric Mangini and again in 2014, when he pulled himself from consideration.

The 43-year-old McDaniels might be ready to leave the comforts of New England, where he's won Super Bowl titles on Bill Belichik's staff while working alongside superstar quarterback Tom Brady.

McDaniels is the eighth candidate to meet with owner Jimmy Haslam and his search committee, who have no other scheduled interviews at this point and could be nearing a decision.

Because of his major past success, McDaniels' meeting could be as much about him seeing if the Browns, who haven't made the playoffs since 2002, are a fit for him.

McDaniels is from Canton, Ohio, and he went to college at John Carroll in suburban Cleveland.

The Browns interviewed Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski on Thursday. He was a finalist for the job a year ago.