Browns Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton Will Interview to Be Vikings Head Coach

Jul 26, 2013; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton watches his defense during training camp at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Spielman knows what he will be doing for the next couple of weeks. He will be conducting interviews with head coaching candidates. And that’s about it. No time for much else with the list of guys he has lined up.

And the list just keeps growing. Now you can add Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton to the line-up.

Horton’s career path looks a lot like that of out-going head coach Leslie Frazier. Horton started as a DB in the NFL, playing with the Bengals and Cowboys. He became a defensive backs coach after his playing career ended, then worked his way up to defensive coordinator. He’s had stops in Arizona and Cleveland as DC.

Now he’s trying to take the next step. He came close to landing a head job in Arizona after Ken Whisenhunt was let go, but he ultimately lost out to Bruce Arians. After one year running the D in Cleveland, he’s ready for another look.

Defensive coaches like Horton figure prominently in Spielman’s coaching search. The Vikings will also interview Seattle’s Dan Quinn, Denver’s Jack Del Rio and Cincinnati’s Mike Zimmer.

Adam Gase, Darrell Bevell and Jay Gruden are on the wish list on the offensive side of the ball.

We’re not hearing about a lot of college coaches. Bill O’Brien was on the radar but he’s now in Houston. It seems Spielman prefers a guy with experience as an NFL assistant. O’Brien worked in the NFL before going to Penn State.

Spielman certainly has plenty of highly-touted assistants to choose from. Which guy will meet his rigid criteria? We’ll find out.

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