CLEVELAND - Eric Mangini is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, a week after being fired by the New York Jets.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that Mangini will be introduced Thursday at a news conference at the team's headquarters in Berea. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Mangini's contract has not been finalized.

Mangini reached an agreement on a four-year deal with the club on Wednesday, the person said.

Mangini is represented by agent Ron Shapiro, who is Mangini's father-in-law.

The 37-year-old Mangini began his NFL career as a ballboy with the Browns in 1994 under then-coach Bill Belichick.

Mangini went 23-25 and made the playoffs once in three seasons with the Jets, who stumbled down the stretch to lose four of their last five games and miss the playoffs after an 8-3 start.

Mangini is taking over the job that one of his best friends in football, Romeo Crennel, was just fired from. The friendship dates to the duo's days as assistants with the Jets under Bill Parcells. Mangini was a defensive assistant while Crennel was the Jets' defensive line coach from 1997-99. Mangini followed Bill Belichick to New England in 2000, and Crennel joined the Patriots' staff a year later after a stint as Cleveland's defensive coordinator.

Crennel and his wife, Rosemary, stayed with Mangini and his wife, Julie, for about six months when the Crennels were having a home built after Romeo took the job as New England's defensive coordinator.

When Crennel was hired as Cleveland's coach, he wanted Mangini as his defensive coordinator but Mangini decided to take over Crennel's spot with the Patriots instead.

Mangini was one of four candidates interviewed by Browns owner Randy Lerner, but the only one with NFL head coaching experience - a prerequisite for Lerner, who also spoke with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.