The Cleveland Browns‘ potential loss could be the Las Vegas Raiders‘ gain.
The Raiders are considered the favorites to land highly sought-after defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, according to insider Jason La Canfora.
Schwartz has spent the past three seasons as Browns defensive coordinator, helping Myles Garrett become a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year while also coaching 2025 second-round pick Carson Schwesinger into the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The Raiders confirmed former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak would be their new head coach. Kubiak helped the Seahawks won Super Bowl 60, 29-13, on Sunday over the New England Patriots.
Jim Schwartz Wants to be the Raiders’ Defensive Coordinator: Report
La Canfora is one of the most dialed-in NFL insiders, and he cited Schwartz’s resentment about being passed over for the Cleveland head coach role as a major factor in him moving on.
“The Cleveland Browns, who considered longtime defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for their head coaching vacancy before recently hiring Todd Monken, have been working diligently to try to retain Schwartz on Monken’s staff, but league sources have confirmed he has officially left the franchise,” La Canfora reported for Sports Boom. “Multiple NFL executives whose teams have been engaged in hiring new coaching staffs indicated that Schwartz is thought of very highly by the Raiders and rookie head coach Klint Kubiak, and they expect that’s where the well-regarded defensive play caller will land.”
The Browns considered hiring Schwartz as their head coach and pairing him with a smart offensive playcaller — like Nate Scheelhaase from the Los Angeles Rams. But they hired Monken, who was offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens the past three seasons, instead.
After being spurned by the Browns, and failing to land another head coaching gig — he was the Detroit Lions head coach for five years from 2009-13 — Schwartz wants to be in Vegas with minority owner Tom Brady, according to La Canfora’s sources.
“Sources have told SportsBoom that Schwartz is more than open to helping Brady and Kubiak rebuild that unit after Pete Carroll failed in one year there as head coach (and defensive mastermin),” La Canfora reported while adding that a high-ranking official from a different team said “Schwartz wants to be in Vegas. That’s where he’s going to end up.”
That wasn’t the only source to tell La Canfora about Schwartz’ interest in Vegas.
“A high-ranking official from another club, also involved in hiring a coaching staff, said ‘We hear he’s wants Vegas and they want him. The Browns don’t want to let him go, but how can you force him to work for Monken after they passed him over for the job? They’ve let guys leave for a lateral move before. I think he gets out.’”
The Raiders Would Be Getting a Superstar in Jim Schwartz
Schwartz seems likely to land another head-coaching gig — especially if he can turn around the awful Las Vegas defense.
The Browns defense ranked fourth in the NFL in total defense in 2025 — two years after they ranked first in that category. Schwartz was the DC of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 that, along with offensive-minded head coach Doug Pederson, helped bring the city’s first Super Bowl championship home with an upset win over the Patriots.
So with superstar EDGE Maxx Crosby assessing all things before he returns to Vegas, prying Schwartz away from Cleveland to coach up a unit that’s finished 25th in points-allowed per game the past two years seems like the best move, even if he only lasts one year in that role.
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