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Devin Bush #30 of the Cleveland Browns speaks to linebackers coach
Jason Tarver
The Cleveland Browns saw their saga with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz come to an end on Friday, as Schwartz finally blinked and ended what had developed into a staring contest between the two sides. Schwartz is resigning, allowing the Browns to wriggle out of the final two years of his contract.
The Browns are left with Todd Monken as the head coach and no defensive coordinator.
In a statement, the team thanked Schwartz: “Yesterday, Jim Schwartz submitted his letter of resignation as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. We’d like to thank Jim for his contributions to our organization over the last three seasons. Our search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately.”
That’s a tricky search to begin here in early February, after most candidates have been scooped up by other organizations. There’s been speculation that the Browns will seek to hire someone from within, and given the lack of alternatives, that appears to be the best path forward.
Jason Tarver a Potential Browns Replacement
Even before Schwartz’s departure from the Browns became official, SI.com insider Albert Breer had suggested that there was already a frontrunner for the job: linebackers coach Jason Tarver. Importantly, while Schwartz has resigned, the rest of the defensive staff has remained in place.
Wrote Breer this week: “If Cleveland loses (Schwartz), linebackers coach Jason Tarver would certainly be a consideration, as a guy who has an existing relationship with Monken. If the Browns go outside the building, another Houston assistant—pass-game coordinator Cory Undlin—would be a name to watch. He and Monken were together in Jacksonville in 2009 and ’10.”
Jason Tarver Has a Spotty Record
Tarver has been with the Browns since 2020 and certainly is well-liked in the building. He has experience as a defensive coordinator before, filling that role with the Raiders from 2012-14, and doing the job at the collegiate level at Vanderbilt in 2018-19.
The downside: The Raiders were 28th, 29th and 32nd in Tarver’s three years as the defensive coordinator.
Also of note, though, is that Ephraim Banda, the safeties coach, was interviewed by the Dallas Cowboys for their defensive coordinator’s job.
Browns Sticking With the Defensive System
Either way, in his introductory press conference, Monken made clear that the Browns would continue to run the attacking, wide-nine defense that Schwartz favored. The hope is that one of the assistants, perhaps Tarver, can teach it as well as Schwartz did.
Said Monken: “First off, my anticipation is we are not going to change the system. Very difficult to go against. Not planning on changing the system. We’re built for the system that they’re in currently. I am not gonna get into staffing, because now is not the time to get into that. But they can be rest assured that we’re going to be in the same system. We’re still going to let them attack, we’re still going to let them play free. I can’t see another way.
“They’re a big reason why I took this job. The defensive players. I didn’t take this job because of Jim Schwartz. I have a lot of respect for Jim Schwartz, as I would hope he has for me. But I took it because of the players who are here, the ownership, Andrew Berry and the ability to build this roster from the ground up on the offensive side.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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