Hires And Fires – NFL News And Notes

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have hired Carolina offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski as their new coach.

Chudzinski first head coaching job comes with the team he loved as a kid. The 44-year old had two previous assistant coaching stints with the Browns in 2004 and 2007. He becomes Cleveland's sixth full-time coach since 1999.

Chudzinski, who grew up in Ohio and rooted for the Browns as a kid, interviewed with the team on Wednesday. He has spent the past two years working with Carolina working with quarterback Cam Newton.

The Browns have been searching for a coach since firing Pat Shurmur on Dec. 31 after a 5-11 season.

Coach fired after team's worst season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars fired coach Mike Mularkey after one season Thursday. The 2-14 record the Jags had in 2012 was the worst in franchise history.

New general manager David Caldwell made the announcement, giving him a clean slate heading into 2013. Caldwell added there were no plans for the Jaguars to attempt to acquire Jets back-up quarterback Tim Tebow (TEE'-boh). The former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida is a Jacksonville native.

Gruden interviews with Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden (GROO'-den) is the latest to interview for the vacant head coaching job with the Arizona Cardinals. Gruden says his interview at Cardinals headquarters was his first for a head coaching job with any NFL team. He says he may interview with the Philadelphia Eagles next week.

The Cardinals also have interviewed their defensive coordinator, Ray Horton, and Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

Eagles continue coaching search

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Chicago coach Lovie Smith has interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles, making him the seventh candidate to pitch to become Andy Reid's replacement.

Smith was fired by the Bears a day after the season ended, the same day that the Eagles let Reid go. Reid has since become Kansas City's new head coach.

Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden are on the list of Eagles candidates who have yet to interview.

Coordinators named by Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — New Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has named his offense and defensive coordinators. Mike Pettine has been hired as the Bills new defensive boss while Nathaniel Hackett will be running the offense.

Pettine spent the past four seasons as the New Jets defensive coordinator while Hackett will be following Marrone, Syracuse's former coach, to Buffalo. Hackett has spent the past four seasons working as Marrone's offensive assistant at Syracuse.

Niners stay with Akers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — David Akers is keeping his job as San Francisco's starting kicker for Saturday's playoff game against Green Bay. The 49ers (11-4-1) signed Billy Cundiff on Jan. 1 to compete with Akers, who has struggled this season while making only 29 of 42 field-goal attempts. Akers revealed last week he underwent double hernia surgery last February, then re-aggravated the area when he slipped on the field during practice.

The 15-year veteran understood why Cundiff was brought in, but Akers made it clear he wants to remain the kicker.

Greenway heads to Pro Bowl

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl team as an injury replacement for DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys. Greenway will be the first Vikings linebacker to play in consecutive Pro Bowls since Scott Studwell in 1987-88.