UPDATE 1:48 p.m. ET: Condoleezza Rice herself has weighed in, saying she's "not ready to coach." However, she's down to call "a play or two" if the Browns are open to it.
See original story below.
The Cleveland Browns are looking to hire their next head coach, and it would seem as if they've got an idea on who they might want for the role. Browns general manager John Dorsey previously said that he was open to hiring a woman as the next head coach for the team, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that one of the potential names they have in mind is former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
However, Dorsey released a short statement contradicting the report and denying that Rice was being considered. "Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a great leader, possesses the highest possible character and also happens to be a Browns fan," the statement reads. "I have the utmost respect and admiration for all she's accomplished and was honored to meet her for the first time earlier this season. Our coaching search will be thorough and deliberate, but we are still in the process of composing the list of candidates and Secretary Rice has not been discussed."
If Rice did go through with an interview, she would've been the first woman to interview for a head coaching job in NFL history. "She's an amazing person," a source close to the Browns told ESPN.
The 64-year-old Rice has been a fan of the Cleveland Browns all her life, going to games with her father when she was growing up in Birmingham, Alabama. She's previously appeared in a Browns jersey in a number of NFL commercials. Rice was also one of the inaugural members of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
