NFL head coaching searches: What would it take for Bill Cowher to return? TV cohort chimes in

CLEVELAND - Once again, Bill Cowher’s name has come up as NFL teams search to fill head coaching vacancies.

Cowher has been a popular possibility each offseason since he left the Pittsburgh Steelers and moved into the studio as an analyst on CBS’ "NFL Today" after the 2006 NFL season.

Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe are co-analysts with Cowher on the pregame show. I asked them via Twitter Thursday what it would take for Cowher to return to the game as a head coach.

The former Broncos and Ravens tight end Sharpe responded back that he’ll ask him Sunday.

Esiason, who quarterbacked the Jets, Cardinals and Bengals, tweeted back that Cowher would need “a viable QB and a whole lot more.”

Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden finished his rookie season with a 72.6 quarterback rating, 29th among qualified NFL starters. He threw 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Current quarterbacks on the rosters of other open jobs include Phillip Rivers in San Diego and Jay Cutler in Chicago, both of whom have led teams to conference championship games.

The whole lot more Esiason alludes to for Cowher could entail any number of factors from location to talent to management.

The Browns are reportedly scheduled to interview Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly Friday. They have already interviewed Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.