He?s not the most famous man in his family, but Brian Schottenheimer received star treatment from the Ravens on Monday.
The New York Jets offensive coordinator interviewed at the team?s Owings Mills complex for the head coaching position, which was vacated when the Ravens fired Brian Billick on Dec. 31. The meeting lasted more than four hours before Schottenheimer, 34, briefly spoke with members of the media before being driven away by a team employee.
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“I had a great day,” Schottenheimer said before leaving.
Dick Cass, the team?s president, brought Schottenheimer to the team?s headquarters earlier in the afternoon, as the son of renowned coach Marty Schottenheimer became the fifth candidate to speak with team about its head coaching position.
Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh is expected to interview with the Ravens today.
Billick was fired after nine seasons, which included a victory in Super Bowl XXXV in 2001.
The Jets had the 26th-ranked offense in the NFL this season under the younger Schottenheimer. In addition to college stints, the Jets offensive coordinator has worked for the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers under his father, who was a head coach for each team. Marty Schottenheimer was fired by the San Diego Chargers last season after the team went 14-2, but lost in the second round of the playoffs.
Ravens officials have refused to confirm who they have interviewed, but the team brought Indianapolis assistant head coach Jim Caldwell to the team?s headquarters on Friday, the day before interviewing Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Ravens officials spoke with fired Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan on Sunday.
The elder Schottenheimer also has been rumored to be in contention for the Ravens? job. The elder Schottenheimer coached Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens? general manager, when he was a Hall of Fame tight end for the Cleveland Browns in the 1980s.
Newsome, minority owner Art Modell and vice president of public community relations Kevin Byrne know both Schottenheimers well from their time with the Browns. All three came with the Browns organization when it moved to Baltimore in 1996.
Byrne and Newsome are on the team?s search committee for a new coach.
Schottenheimer?s father would not necessarily be a popular choice for the team?s veteran players. Left tackle Jonathan Ogden just finished his 12th season and has been leaning toward retirement. The team wants the potential Hall of Famer to return next season.
“Of all names that have been mentioned, I would probably say Marty would be the best fitting,” Ogden said on his ESPN 1300 radio show last week. “Iwould not want to play for Marty, personally. Nothing against the man, I just know his style and when you?re going into your 13th year, Bruce Smith was doing Oklahoma drills in Washington when he came to Washington. I wouldn?t want to be out there doing that same thing. But for what direction they might want to go, he would probably be the best fit.”
The team has scratched other hopefuls off of their list, including former Ravens assistant and current Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. Ferentz decided to stay at Iowa, and Chudzinski signed a contract extension with the Browns yesterday.
