The Browns had an up and down 2010 season. They won their last four games at the end of the 2009 season, so expectations were high for a 5-11 team. Unfortunately, the team didn't improve enough over the off-season and finished with a 5-11 record yet again and head coach Eric Mangini was let go.
Pat Shurmur was hired by team president Mike Holmgren to replace Mangini as head coach. Shurmur wasn't a big name head coaching candidate when the 2010 season started, but he helped guide the Rams offense and rookie quarterback Sam Bradford to an unexpectedly good season this year. He was also a long time Eagles assistant and Eagles coach Andy Reid is a former Holmgren disciple, which surely helped in his getting hired.
Shurmur and the Browns should improve moving forwards. The team added quarterback Colt McCoy and corner back Joe Haden in last year's draft and should continue to draft well with Holmgren at the helm. They are on the upside of the rebuilding process now and should consider than when they make their decisions about their own free agents.