We are all very grateful to Mangini for doing what no other coach in the the NFL has dared to do for a quarter-century. He gave a white running back the opportunity to be the primary ball carrier for the entire season and of course Hillis delivered. For that alone, (and thanks for reminding us that he was also responsible for giving Danny the chance with the Jets), I wish him and his family the best in the future. I really hope he lands somewhere, first as an assistant perhaps, and then gets another HC position. He's only 39, so I'm hopeful he'll be back.
As for what happens now, I think the interview with this Perry fellow is just to conform with the Rooney rule. I'm going to predict that if Walrus Holmgren cannot bring Jon Gruden over, he'll step in to coach the team himself. For Hillis, that will be the nail in the coffin. Holmgren's teams have always stuck to the following formula, when you examine his Green Bay and Seattle years:
a white QB
2-3 white OL
a nearly coal-black defense, with 1-2 token whites
an occasional white TE
...and a nearly 100% black composition on the skill positions (WR/RB)
So, there's virtually no room for Hillis in a Holmgren team/system. Ironically, as bad as Gruden is, his past history with Mike Alstott shows that he's not 100% against a white RB getting carries. Sure, he never fully utilized Alstott while at TB, but I know I'll be happy to see Hillis have a similar career, with getting 40% of the carries, a few near-1000 yard seasons, and being an integral part of the offense. It's far better than the alternative of being jerked around and traded to some other team and forgotten.
I think we'll all be following the situation in CLE very closely the next few days.