The Cleveland Browns have turned to journeyman Hue Jackson to jumpstart the stalled franchise.

The 50-year-old Jackson, most recently offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, is accepting what has been the NFL’s version of mission impossible.

Since 1999 when the “new” Browns were born in Northeast Ohio, the franchise has gone 87-185, with just two playoff games (losses in 2002 and 2007).

Coach Mike Pettine, after two years on the sidelines, was fired after going 3-13 this last season as the latest casualty on the coaching merry-go-round.

Also fired was Ray Farmer, the Browns’ general manager. Farmer, who is African-American, has been replaced by Paul DePodesta, who has mainly a baseball background.

Coach Jackson becomes Cleveland’s eighth coach since 1999, the sixth since 2007 and third since 2013.

This is Coach Jackson’s second head coaching job. He was let go after posting an 8-8 mark with the Oakland Raiders in 2011.

A former star quarterback at the University of the Pacific in California, Coach Jackson was an assistant at Pacific, Cal State-Fullerton, Arizona State, University of California-Berkeley, and Southern Cal.

He also spent a season with the London Monarchs of the World Football League.

Moving to the NFL in 2001, Coach Jackson worked for Washington, Atlanta, Baltimore, Oakland and Cincinnati on two separate occasions.

The NFL’s black coaching fraternity gained one in Coach Jackson but lost another in Lovie Smith, who was dumped by Tampa Bay after going 2-14 and 6-10 the past two seasons.

Smith also was fired previously after posting a 89-87 record with the Chicago Bears from 2004 to 2012.

Smith’s successor in Tampa, Dirk Koetter, has a potentially elite quarterback in Jamies Winston.

Coach Jackson’s task in Cleveland is more challenging. Quarterback Johnny Manziel, a top pick in 2014, has been disappointing on and off the field and might be traded.

Former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III has been mentioned as a possible addition.

In Cincinnati, Coach Jackson served as offensive coordinator under Marvin Lewis and was credited for grooming Andy Dalton into a Pro Bowl quarterback.

The Browns will pick second, after Tennessee, in the April 28-30 draft held in Chicago. Jared Goff, who passed for 43 touchdowns this past season at California, is considered a leading quarterback prospect.

Coach Jackson becomes Cleveland’s second black coach following Romeo Crennel (24-40 record, 2005-2008).

The original Cleveland franchise that won eight All-American Football League (AAFL) and NFL titles, 1946-1964, moved to Baltimore in 1996, becoming the Ravens.

Jim Brown, Marion Motley, Leroy Kelly, Paul Warfield, Bobby Mitchell and Ozzie Newsome were among original Browns Hall of Famers.