by Jay Glazer

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The Browns have worked out a deal to hire former Jets head coach Eric Mangini to lead a team that finished a disappointing 4-12 this season, FOXSports.com learned Wednesday.

The team announced the hiring on their website Thursday morning.

Cleveland has still not revealed who it will pair with Mangini as the team's next general manager. Phil Savage was fired as GM last month.

The current Browns assistant coaches have been told not to come into work on Thursday or Friday, sources said, but there is still no official word on their fates.

When Mangini met with owner Randy Lerner, sources say the owner was extremely pleased with the coach's preparation, strategic planning and also heard very good feedback about him from several people within the Jets organization.

The 37-year-old Mangini began his NFL career as a ballboy with the Browns in 1994.

Mangini spent three seasons with the Jets, where he compiled a record of 23-25. The team went 10-6 in 2006 and made the postseason, but a 4-12 season followed.

This season, Mangini's squad was 8-3 and among the NFL's best teams after road wins over the Patriots and Titans. But a collapse followed, with the Jets finishing 9-7 and missing the playoffs on the season's final day.

Cleveland went 10-6 a year ago — its best season since 1994 — but took a major step backward in 2008, leading the Browns to fire head coach Romeo Crennel and open the job for Mangini.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.