The Cleveland Browns have fired executive vice president Sashi Brown after the team's 0-12 start, as first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini.
Head coach Hue Jackson's job is safe and he'll return next season.
"We have great appreciation and gratitude for Sashi's commitment and leadership to our organization but believe transitioning to someone with strong experience and success in drafting and building consistently winning football teams is critical to the future of the Cleveland Browns," owner Jimmy Haslam said in a statement.
Brown took over as Cleveland's executive vice president of football operations ahead of the 2016 season. Since then, the team has managed just one win in 27 games. A late-season victory in 2016 saved the club from finishing 0-16, but the Browns are four games from that distinction this year.
Under Brown's watch, Cleveland traded top draft picks that allowed other teams to land franchise quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson. The Browns instead selected DeShone Kizer, who has been benched on numerous occasions for poor play, in the second round of the 2017 draft.
They also bungled a trade-deadline deal for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron.
Ahead of the upcoming draft, the Browns are stocked with picks.
The Browns will have up to 6 extra picks in the 2018 NFL Draft and they currently have nearly $59M in available cap space, most in the NFL according to Roster Management System. https://t.co/yhMaBGJfhl
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 7, 2017
"The 2018 draft and offseason is pivotal for our franchise, we need to ensure that we maximize our opportunity for success; with our picks, free agency, and building our roster," Haslam said.
Jackson shares a 1-27 win-loss record over the past two seasons, but Haslam voiced his support for his head coach.
"Hue Jackson will remain our coach and will return for the 2018 season but we feel it is necessary to take significant steps to strengthen our personnel department," he said. "We have begun the process of having productive conversations regarding leadership of our football operations and will provide further updates when appropriate."
The Browns have already begun the process of researching potential general manager candidates, including former Kansas City Chiefs GM John Dorsey, Seattle Seahawks co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner, and Green Bay Packers director of football operations Eliot Wolf, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
