The Cleveland Browns are building another coaching staff and this time they are targeting a member of the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff.
According to the Pioneer Press, the Browns have contacted the Vikings saying they want to hire running backs coach Kirby Wilson to join the staff of new Browns head coach Hue Jackson.
Wilson would become Cleveland’s running game coordinator, but since he’s not being interviewed for a head coaching job and Wilson’s under contract with the Vikings, Minnesota would have to approve of the move.
“Everything is set if they approve it,” John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which promotes minority hiring in the NFL told the Pioneer Press Friday. “That’s the guy Cleveland wants. Kirby would coordinate their running game, and it would put Kirby in position to move up the line [in coaching].”
Wilson, 54, has been with the Vikings the last two seasons. Before that he spent seven seasons as Pittsburgh’s running backs coach. Pro Football Talk reports Jackson plans to call his own plays, but Wooten claims it would be a promotion for Wilson – not a lateral move.
Wilson has done a nice job with the Vikings running backs in Minnesota. Adrian Peterson won the NFL’s rushing title this season, and last year without AP, both Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata proved to be very capable backs under Wilson’s leadership.
But will the Vikings approve it?
#Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson is under contract and my guess is they intend for him to honor it. https://t.co/qhg0ybbZLr
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) January 15, 2016
The Browns named Jackson their fourth head coach since 2011. According to the Pioneer Press report, Wooten plans to talk with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer to push for Wilson being allowed to take the job.
