Cleveland Browns interview Seattle pro personnel director Will Lewis for GM opening

Browns interview 2nd GM candidate

CLEVELAND — His coach locked in place, new Browns president Mike Holmgren continued his search for a general manager on Friday.

Holmgren interviewed Seattle pro personnel director Will Lewis, the second candidate brought in to potentially fill Cleveland’s GM vacancy.

Through a team spokesman, Holmgren reported the meeting with Lewis “went very well.” Holmgren, who took over Cleveland’s football operations earlier this week, previously worked with Lewis in Green Bay and Seattle. After his playing career ended, Lewis worked as a scout with the Packers before he was added by Holmgren to the Seahawks’ pro personnel department.

On Wednesday, Holmgren interviewed Philadelphia Eagles GM Tom Heckert.

The Browns, who have not had a GM since George Kokinis was fired in November, will not conduct any interviews over the weekend, spokesman Neal Gulkis said.

Heckert, whose father, Tom, worked as a scout for the Browns in the 1980s, could be hired once the Eagles complete their season. They play the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC playoffs on Saturday. Heckert reportedly was going to interview for Seattle’s GM job this week but backed out.

The Seahawks fired coach Jim Mora on Friday and are undergoing a massive overhaul that may have turned off Heckert, who was cleared to interview with the Browns last year but turned down the opportunity when the team’s focus shifted to Kokinis.

Holmgren decided on Thursday to retain coach Eric Mangini, who went 5-11 in his first season with the Browns.

It’s possible both Lewis and Heckert could wind up in Cleveland’s front office.

During his introductory news conference, Holmgren hinted that Cleveland’s hierarchy could be revamped.

“We talked about change and some of that is just restructuring,” he said. “Sometimes you have five people changing the light bulb. We’re going to look at everything and try and streamline things, get good people to do it and work hard.”