The Cleveland Browns‘ dismount from nearly month-long coaching search was not exactly smooth, as multiple reports cropped up that in the wake of the hiring of Todd Monken, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was irate at not being given the job after holding up his end running the best part of Cleveland’s team over the past three seasons.
Schwartz’s anger indicated that perhaps there was miscommunication on the handling of the finalists, which included Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase as well as Monken and Schwartz. Certainly, it appears that Schwartz does not want to return to the Browns, though he is under contract for two more years and the team would like him back in his old job.
Monken has been filling out his staff, but only on the offensive side of the ball, a hint that the team intends to implore Schwartz to put aside his grievance and stick around, even if it is not with the top job in hand.
Browns’ Denzel Ward: ‘I’m Hoping Jim Schwartz Stays’
That’s what star Browns defensive back Denzel Ward is hoping for. Ward was an open proponent of keeping Schwartz, who coached Cleveland to the No. 2 spot in Pro Football Focus’s defensive rankings this year, and helped several players have breakout seasons–all while Myles Garrett broke the single-season NFL sack record.
“I’m hoping coach Schwartz stays,” Ward told the NFL Network on Sunday, via Cleveland.com. “That’s what I’m hoping. That’s who I want to stay. I want coach Schwartz to be my defensive coordinator, and if we can make that happen, I’ll be happy.”
Ward said he has not reached out to Schwartz at this point, and doesn’t know whether reports that Schwartz vowed not to return to Cleveland are true.
“I’m not sure what was true or was not true, so I’m not going to speculate,” Ward said. “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.”
GettyDefensive coordinator Jim Schwartz of the Cleveland Browns.
Jim Schwartz Had Strong Backing
That is reflective of what Ward said about Schwartz earlier last month, when he did not exactly campaign for his defensive coordinator to get the Browns head coaching job, but he did strongly campaign for him.
“Me personally, I have so much love and respect for coach Schwartz,” Ward said. “Me, I would highly recommend coach Schwartz for a head coaching job here, definitely. Like I said, coach Schwartz, he has helped my game tremendously, puts us in great position, great leader. I can’t say enough great things about him. I think he’s a guy you want coaching somebody, leading a team. I know he’s the guy, he’s a great guy.”
Denzel Ward Points to Browns Players for 2025 Failure
Ward has some standing within the Browns, having been a first-round pick of the team in 2018, and with five Pro Bowl selections under his belt. He has had 18 career interceptions.
He also made clear that the Browns’ failure in their 5-12 season in 2025 was on the players, and that everyone needed to improve.
“The biggest thing that we all got to take accountability for is that we haven’t had the season that we all set out to do. So, things are gonna change and that’s just what the NFL is. … The main focus is us changing the Cleveland Browns organization while I am still here. And it’s winning. Whatever we gotta do to get onto the winning track.
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