The Cleveland Browns have their new head coach in former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski. Leading up to the conclusion of their head coaching search was the pop-up of another NFC North coordinator: Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, the Browns did not consider Pettine for the head coach vacancy. Instead, his name came up because some people within the organization think Cleveland may have moved on from the Packers defensive coordinator too soon.

Pettine previously head coached the Browns for two seasons, from 2014 to 2015. His first season in-charge brought Cleveland their most successful year of the 2010s, as they went 7-9. The Browns then faltered to 3-13 the next year, leading to his dismissal.

Cleveland lost 18 of their last 21 games with Pettine as head coach. Ultimately, that was enough for him to receive the boot alongside general manager Ray Farmer.

Pettine landed on his feet after his two-year stint in Cleveland. After working as a consultant for the Seattle Seahawks in 2017, the Packers offered him the defensive coordinator position. He helped turn around a struggling unit in Green Bay, as indicated by their 13-3 record in 2019.

The Browns' demise under Pettine is not all the coach's fault, as Cleveland's front office made their fair share of questionable roster moves in his two seasons there. Now, the Browns are looking in the mirror, wondering what could have been.

Pettine's Packers will face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional round on Sunday. The winner will move on to the NFC Championship to face the San Francisco 49ers.