Feb. 9, 2026, 4:17 p.m. ET
The list of possible replacements for Jim Schwartz as the Cleveland Browns‘ defensive coordinator continues to grow. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Cleveland has requested permission to interview Carolina Panthers defensive pass game coordinator Jonathan Cooley for their defensive coordinator position.
Cooley has been the Panthers’ defensive pass game coordinator for the past two seasons, after serving as the team’s Secondary/Cornerbacks coach in 2023. Prior to that, Cooley was with the Los Angeles Rams from 2020 to 2023, first as a defensive assistant, then as an assistant secondary coach in 2021, and as the defensive backs coach in 2022.
Before making the jump to the NFL, Cooley spent a season as the defensive backs coach for Akron in 2019 and the secondary coach for Kent State in 2018. The Browns want to get this hire right. The defensive roster is full of talent, but Todd Monken and Andrew Berry want to do their due diligence to ensure they find the right guy to lead it.
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!