Cleveland Browns Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz Wants Out After Not Getting Head Coaching Job
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns officially decided to hand the keys to the kingdom to former Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken. It’s a sensible hire on paper, but the decision has reportedly sent shockwaves through the building, specifically regarding Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz.
According to multiple reports, including those from NFL Network and CBS Sports, this wasn’t a quiet disappointment for the veteran defensive play-caller. Schwartz was described as “visibly upset” after getting the news. He didn’t just frown and go back to watching film; reports indicate he started saying his goodbyes to staff members and told fellow coaches he isn’t coming back.
The Fallout: How Schwartz Reacted To the Snub
The emotional reaction from Schwartz is understandable. This isn’t a young upstart looking for his first break; this is a guy with decades of NFL experience, a Super Bowl ring as a coordinator with the Eagles, and five years of head coaching experience in Detroit. He’s paid his dues.
Schwartz was one of the finalists for the job vacated by Kevin Stefanski. He likely looked at what he achieved in 2023, leading the league in total defense and helping Myles Garrett smash the single-season sack record, and thought, “What else do I have to do?”
When the answer turned out to be “be an offensive coordinator,” the bridge appears to have been torched. While Monken is reportedly open to keeping Schwartz on staff, the feeling doesn’t seem mutual. Asking a guy to return to his old office and take orders from the person who just beat him out for the job he wanted? That’s a tough ask for anyone with pride, let alone an NFL coach with a pedigree like Schwartz.
Contractual Obligations vs. Human Emotion
Here is where things get messy, in true Cleveland fashion. Schwartz isn’t a free agent. He is under contract with the Browns through the 2026 season.
Technically, the Browns hold all the cards. They could play hardball. They could point to the piece of paper and say, “You work for us, Jim.” But as CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones noted, holding a coach hostage is rarely a winning strategy. You don’t want a defensive coordinator who has one foot out the door and a grudge against the front office calling plays for your franchise cornerstone.
If Schwartz wants out, the Browns are in a bind. Keeping him creates a divided locker room where defensive players might be loyal to Schwartz over the new head coach. Letting him go means losing the architect of one of the league’s most feared units.
What Losing Schwartz Means For Cleveland’s Defense
If Schwartz actually walks, it’s a massive blow. The Browns’ defense wasn’t just “good” last year; they were statistically dominant. They finished first in total defense in 2023 and remained elite in 2025.
Schwartz unlocked something in that unit that previous coordinators failed to find. He brought an aggressive, wide-9 scheme that allowed Garrett to wreck games. Losing him puts Monken in a difficult spot immediately. He would have to hire a new defensive coordinator who either tries to replicate Schwartz’s specific system or installs a new scheme entirely, risking a regression from a unit that was supposed to be the team’s bedrock.
Potential Landing Spots
If the Browns do the sensible thing and let him out of his deal, Schwartz won’t be unemployed for long. The phone lines will light up. The San Francisco 49ers are already rumored to be interested, needing a defensive coordinator. There are plenty of other teams, the Chargers, Titans, and Commanders, who could use a defensive mind of his caliber. Even without a head coaching title, Schwartz is a hot commodity.
For now, the ball is in Cleveland’s court. They got their new head coach in Monken, but in the process, they may have alienated the best coach they already had in the building. It’s a classic case of winning the battle but potentially losing the war.
