AP

The Browns’ search for a head coach finally came to an end on Thursday with the hiring of former Bills and Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

We’ve already heard that the team is interested in speaking to Bills linebackers coach Jim O’Neil about coming on board as Pettine’s defensive coordinator. Now there’s a report about a potential candidate to run their offense.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the team has interest in former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak as their offensive coordinator. Kubiak was fired by the Texans during the 2013 season and interviewed with the Lions before they hired Jim Caldwell as their new head coach.

Adding Kubiak to the staff would give the Browns someone with NFL head coaching experience in support of Pettine as well as an experienced offensive hand with a history of success in both Denver and Houston. Rapoport opines that it might also give them a leg up in pursuit of impending free agent running back Ben Tate, who Kubiak coached in Houston and who, per Rapoport, the Browns would “love” to add this offseason.