Although she would be an "extreme longshot," the NFL's Cleveland Browns are weighing an interview with Bush 43 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as they search for their next head coach, ESPN reported.
A league source told ESPN the Browns would like to interview Rice, which would make her the first woman to be interviewed for an NFL head-coaching job. She could also be brought aboard as a franchise consultant, per the report.
"She's an amazing person," a Browns source told ESPN.
But after the story broke, the Browns general manager insisted that Rice was not being considered for coach.
"Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is a great leader, possesses the highest possible character and also happens to be a Browns fan," general manager John Dorsey wrote in a tweeted statement released Sunday.
"I have the utmost respect and admiration for all she's accomplished and was honored to meet her for the first time earlier this season."
"Our coaching search will be thorough and deliberate, but we are still in the process of composing the list of candidates and Secretary Rice has not been discussed," he concluded in the statement on Twitter.
Rice, 64, is a lifelong Browns fan, per the report, and has expressed interest in other roles within sports, including working for the NFL. She was also a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee from 2013-16 after serving as the secretary of State in former president George W. Bush's administration from 2005-09.
She refuted the report Sunday afternoon via Facebook:
"I love my Browns -- and I know they will hire an experienced coach to take us to the next level.
"On a more serious note, I do hope that the NFL will start to bring women into the coaching profession as position coaches and eventually coordinators and head coaches. One doesn't have to play the game to understand it and motivate players. But experience counts -- and it is time to develop a pool of experienced women coaches.
"BTW -- I'm not ready to coach but I would like to call a play or two next season if the Browns need ideas! And at no time will I call for a 'prevent defense.'"
"One thing for sure, if Condoleezza Rice is the head coach, she would be the smartest head coach in the NFL the day she takes the job," former NFL coach and current ESPN analyst Rex Ryan said.
Browns GM John Dorsey said last week he was open to hiring a woman as Cleveland's next head coach.
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