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The New England Patriots officially opened their defensive coordinator spot because they moved Terrell Williams to a “high-ranking role” within their staff. This obviously opens the role for their 2025 defensive coordinator, Zak Kuhr, but this is a team that undoubtedly needs to turn over every possible leaf.

*PREDICTION*

Now our eyes turn to the former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator, who resigned due to being passed over for the head coaching position. Schwartz is on the list alongside Sean McDermott and Mike Tomlin as the biggest coaching names still available, and he’s definitely looking for a job.

Let’s break down the connection between Schwartz and the Patriots, as well as the likelihood of him actually being considered for this gig. 

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Could the Patriots Hire Jim Schwartz as Defensive Coordinator?

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Jim Schwartz have a lengthy connection when it comes to coaching together. In 2021 & 2022, when Vrabel was the Tennessee Titans head coach, he hired Schwartz to be his senior defensive assistant. Here’s what Schwartz has said about Vrabel:

“My thyroid had gone berserk, and I needed a bunch of different operations and procedures. Mike Vrabel called me it seemed like every week for about four months, and he never once talked about football. He just always just asked me how I was doing and everything else.”

On top of this, Vrabel has often praised Schwartz:

“Jim Schwartz — I had a really good relationship with Schwartzy. They’re playing really well.”

After Vrabel was fired as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach, he was hired by the Cleveland Browns in 2024 as a consultant. This was very likely due to the relationship Schwartz and Vrabel have.

Looking at the Patriots’ 2026 offseason, there is a good chance that Zak Kuhr gets that role as their new defensive coordinator, but it would be a disservice for New England not to do their due diligence on Schwartz, especially if he can find a way to get out of his contract.

Did the Cleveland Browns Fire Jim Schwartz?

The Cleveland Browns did not fire Schwartz, but rather, he resigned. The problem with this is the fact that he is still under contract with the Browns, who, quite frankly, still determine his future.

As Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported, he’s under contract in 2026 with a team option for 2027. That means Schwartz could have to sit out a full year before reentering the NFL’s hiring cycle, and he’d still need Browns owner Jimmy Haslam to sign off on him breaking the contract.

Jim Schwartz Coaching History

Jim Schwartz began his NFL coaching career with the Cleveland Browns as a personnel scout in 1993 before joining the Baltimore Ravens as a defensive assistant from 1996 to 1998.

He then worked with the Tennessee Titans/Oilers organization from 1999 to 2008, serving as defensive coordinator from 2001 through 2008 and helping lead the team to multiple playoff appearances.

Schwartz became head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009 to 2013, guiding the franchise to a playoff berth in the 2011 season.

He later served as defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills from 2014 to 2015 and the Philadelphia Eagles from 2016 to 2020, winning Super Bowl LII with Philadelphia during the 2017 season.

After a brief stint as a senior defensive assistant with the Tennessee Titans in 2021, he was hired as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns in 2023.

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