BEREA, Ohio -- Browns new defensive coordinator Ray Horton told the Plain Dealer today he's "ecstatic'' to be joining the Brown despite being passed over for head coaching opportunities.

Horton, 52, interviewed for the Browns head coaching vacancy on Jan. 1 and would've loved that job, but is very excited to become head coach Rob Chudzinski's first defensive coordinator.

Horton's hiring gives the Browns three extremely strong coordinators, including Norv Turner on offense and Chris Tabor on special teams. The Browns were very impressed with Horton right from the start.

Horton will also be reunited with Turner, who gave him his first coaching job in football, with the Redskins in 1994, when Turner was head coach there. Horton also played for the Cowboys when Turner was offensive coordinator there.

"Norv is one of the pre-eminent callers of the game of football,'' said Horton, who added that the Browns will have excellent offenses and defenses. Horton replaces Dick Jauron, who was popular with the players here. He ran a 3-4 in Arizona, but said he's open to anything here.

"I'm a coach of men, whether it's a 3-4, 4-3, 5-2,'' he said.

Horton became available when Bruce Arians was named Cardinals head coach on Thursday. Horton has interviewed for that job twice and was miffed to be passed over, according to reports. He got into "a heated exchange'' with new general manager Steve Keim over the move, according to Mike Jurecki of XTRA 910..

He admitted today he was "very'' disappointed not to get a head coaching opportunity this season, but that he's thrilled to join the Browns.

Arians reportedly plans to hire former Browns assistant Todd Bowles as his defensive coordinator.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is familiar with Horton from their days together with the Steelers, when Haslam was part owner and Horton was a Steelers defensive assistant under Dick LeBeau, including 2007 through 2010 as defensive backs coach.

Horton said he played golf with LeBeau today and told him "we're going to have some really good battles.''

Horton described his interview with the Browns for their head coaching vacancy as "fantastic'' and said he studied the team thoroughly before his interview. "It's a team loaded with good, young talent,'' he said.

Chudzinsnki, who's still rounding out his staff, now has his two most important hires wrapped up.

"We are truly excited that we were able to get someone of Ray’s caliber as our defensive coordinator,” said Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski said in a statement. “He possesses a great deal of experience as a player, position coach and coordinator in the NFL and has been part of some of the top defenses in the league throughout his career. He is an extremely talented coach and I know that he will work very well with the young nucleus of players we have on defense.

“With the additions of Ray and Norv (Turner), and also by retaining Chris (Tabor) we believe we have outstanding leaders and teachers in each of our three phases. I feel as though we are off to a great start in our plan of putting together an outstanding coaching staff.”

Said CEO Joe Banner, “As we’ve said before, an important factor in hiring Rob was our confidence in him being able to put together a top-quality staff. He has assembled an extremely impressive group of coaches, and that will be very beneficial as we develop our players.”

From the Browns news release, Horton guided a defensive unit in 2012 that led the NFL in passer rating allowed (71.2) and interception percentage (4.4%). His defense also ranked second in the NFL in interceptions (22) and third-down efficiency (32.9%), third in red zone defense (44.4%) and fourth in takeaways (33). The defense also ranked fifth in passing defense (200.8 ypg), first downs allowed (288) and points allowed per drive (1.42).

Cardinals defensive back Patrick Peterson ranked fourth in the NFL with seven interceptions and led the league with five fumble recoveries en route to being the only Cardinal selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl. Horton made an immediate impact upon his arrival in 2011, as the club’s defense allowed 34 total touchdowns, their fewest since 1994, while leading the NFL in third down efficiency (31.4%).

Before joining the Cardinals, Horton spent seven seasons (2004-10) as the Steelers defensive backs/assistant defensive backs coach under the widely-respected LeBeau.

During his tenure in Pittsburgh, he helped the Steelers defense rank in the top 10 in the NFL in total defense each season, including leading the NFL on three occasions (2004, ’07-08). Horton was pivotal in the development of Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, as he was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2005-10), named a first-team All-Pro three times (2005, 2008, 2010) and was voted as the 2010 AP Defensive Player of the Year.

Horton began his coaching career in Washington, where he served as assistant defensive backs/defensive assistant for three seasons (1994-96). He then made two stops as defensive backs coach with the Cincinnati Bengals (1997-2001) and Detroit Lions (2002-03), before landing in Pittsburgh.

A second-round selection (53rd overall) by Cincinnati in the 1983 NFL Draft, Horton appeared in 147 games with 99 starts with the Bengals (1983-88) and Dallas Cowboys (1989-92). Over the course of his career, he notched 19 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and scored five defensive touchdowns. He also made two Super Bowl appearances, playing in Super Bowl XXIII with Cincinnati and winning Super Bowl XXVII with Dallas.

A three-year letterman (1980-82) as a defensive back at the University of Washington, Horton earned All-Pac 10 honors and played in two Rose Bowls. A native of Tacoma, Wash., he attended Mount Tacoma High, where he was an All-American. He is married to wife Karena and has a daughter, Taylor, and a son, Jarren.