CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have received permission to interview Houston quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan to be their offensive co-ordinator.

Texans coach Bill O'Brien confirmed Cleveland's interest in Ryan on Tuesday, a day after Browns coach Hue Jackson said he would consider hiring a co-ordinator after handling the play-calling duties over the past two seasons.

Jackson went 0-16 this season and is 1-31 with the Browns, but is being kept by owner Jimmy Haslam.

The 45-year-old Ryan spent last season working with rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was having a Pro Bowl-caliber season before tearing a knee ligament.

Cleveland owns the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and will likely use it to select a quarterback. The Browns passed on a chance to draft Watson last season and traded the No. 12 pick to the Texans, who nabbed the former Clemson star.

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