Getty
Former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz before a September 21, 2025 game.
The Cleveland Browns would probably prefer not to play hardball with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, but recent developments have left the franchise holding all the cards.
Schwartz wants out of Cleveland after the team picked former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as its next head coach after interviewing Schwartz three times. In fact, Schwartz has reportedly said he would rather not coach at all than continue on with the Browns, which may be his only option after the events of the past couple of days in San Francisco and Philadelphia.
The 49ers hired Raheem Morris on Sunday, February 1 to replace Robert Saleh as their defensive coordinator, taking a key opening off the board, for which Schwartz was suited nicely. On the same day, rumors began to circulate on social media that Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was considering retirement, just as he did following the team’s title run in 2024.
Schwartz served as the DC in Philly for five years at the end of the 2010s including the 2017 campaign, after which the Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia could have potentially put together a trade package to persuade the Browns to give Schwartz up, but that is no longer necessary following a report on Monday that Fangio is going to remain in Philly for at least one more season.
“While Vic Fangio did seriously entertain retiring as recently as last week, my understanding that is no longer the case and that the #Eagles are confident in his return at this point after much persuasion,” EJ Smith of PHLY Sports reported via X. “He’s expected to be back as defensive coordinator next season.”
Denzel Ward Spoke Recently About Strained Relationship Between Browns, Jim Schwartz
GettyCleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Schwartz had the backing of top Browns defenders heading into the coaching cycle, such as defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward, both of whom made the Pro Bowl in 2025.
Ward even pitched Schwartz as the next head coach before the team began interviewing candidates in earnest. He also spoke about the strained circumstances in the aftermath of Cleveland’s decision to pass over Schwartz for the top job.
“I’m not sure what was true or was not true, so I’m not going to speculate,” Ward said Monday, per Cleveland.com. “I’m just going to wait to see how everything plays out and look forward to, hopefully we’re still keeping him. I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach Schwartz, and he’s an amazing coach, and I’m hoping he stays on the team.”
Jim Schwartz May Have Shot to Land DC Job With Raiders or Cardinals, but Staying With Browns Makes More Sense
GettyCleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Schwartz, now 59 years old, put together the Nos. 1 and 4-ranked defenses with the Browns in 2023 and 2025, respectively.
His history, which includes 17 years as a defensive coordinator in the league and five years as a head coach, render him highly desirable across the NFL. That said, most teams have filled their open coordinator positions already.
The 49ers and the Eagles, two highly successful NFC franchises over the last decade or so, happened to be lagging in that department, but no longer.
The Arizona Cardinals just named former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur their new head coach, while Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will take over the Las Vegas Raiders‘ head coaching vacancy following Super Bowl LX.
Schwartz may have an opportunity to land a job with either of those teams, though both were as bad as Cleveland based on win/loss record in 2025 and neither has a defense nearly as good as the one he’s built with the Browns.
Thus, neither situation appears to make much sense for Schwartz, who has strong relationships with the players in Cleveland and could try to push his way out of town next offseason when new HC and DC jobs open up around the league.
Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible
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