You didn't really think Trent Baalke would stay out of the NFL forever, did you?

The Cleveland Browns have reportedly hired the former Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers general manager in a "consultant-like capacity," according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. For NFL fans, few names spark more debate—or more jokes—than Baalke's, and this move has already set the rumor mill ablaze.

Baalke's tenure as an NFL GM has been a mixed bag at best. With the 49ers from 2011 to 2016, he posted a solid 51-44 regular-season record and five postseason wins. But his time with the Jaguars (2021-2024) was far less successful, with a 25-43 record and just one playoff victory. His draft hits in Jacksonville? Only three former first-round picks—Trevor Lawrence, Devin Lloyd, and Brian Thomas Jr.—earned Pro Bowl nods, highlighting a track record that leaves many fans uneasy.

This isn't the first time Browns GM Andrew Berry has brought in a former executive as a consultant. Jared Mueller of Dawgs By Nature notes that Berry has a history of adding failed GMs to his staff, including Bob Quinn, Tom Telesco, and Ryan Grigson. Baalke now joins that exclusive club, and the online community is already buzzing with predictions.

Will Baalke's weaseling ways lead him to usurp Berry's role? How long before he secures a full-time position in Cleveland? For Browns fans, the clock is ticking—and the jokes are just getting started. One thing's for sure: in the NFL, no one stays gone for long.