Nick Saban Bob Stoops Browns
during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 2, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Oklahoma legend Bob Stoops reportedly had interest in an NFL job before retiring

Bob Stoops had interest in this NFL job before retiring from Oklahoma.

Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops shocked the sports world on Wednesday when he suddenly retired, and he reportedly almost made another shocking decision three years ago.

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According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Stoops nearly took the head coaching job for the Cleveland Browns.

Related: Bob Stoops releases statement about his shocking and sudden retirement

The Browns hired Mike Pettine instead, who was fired after only two seasons.

If Hue Jackson doesn't work out in Cleveland, they could make another run at Stoops since he's retired. Fowler said he wouldn't rule out the NFL as a possibility for Stoops.

Stoops is still close with Steve Spurrier, and Spurrier resigned unexpectedly from Florida in 2002. He then accepted a position with the Washington Redskins and eventually made his way back to college with South Carolina. When Spurrier left Florida, he was about the same age as Stoops is now.

Stoops is only 56, so he has plenty of quality years left in him if he chooses to coach again. Given his track record at Oklahoma, he will have plenty of suitors if he decides to coach again.

(h/t The Spun)