The Cleveland Browns will need a new defensive coordinator.
The Browns’ defensive coordinator has been Jim Schwartz, who was in the running for the team’s head coaching job. However, Cleveland opted to hire Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken instead, which left Schwartz furious, according to reports.
Now, on Friday, Schwartz submitted his resignation to the Browns, meaning he won’t be coaching there in 2026. He will have to sit out a year until he coaches again in 2027, if he chooses to continue coaching.
“Jim Schwartz sent the Browns a resignation letter this morning, per sources. He now is likely to sit out this season,” Adam Schefter reported on X.
Schwartz told people in the Browns’ building he wouldn’t be returning after he didn’t get the job. Yet, Andrew Berry and Monken talked to him in hopes of keeping him on staff, but that won’t happen.
Schwartz has been the Browns’ defensive coordinator since 2023. He was the AP assistant Coach of the Year in 2023 as Cleveland’s defense was one of the top units in the NFL.
Who Will Replace Schwartz?
Cleveland wanted to retain Schwartz, but now Monken will have to hire a new defensive coordinator.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network believes the Browns could go in-house to replace Schwartz.
“With hopes of keeping the system together for their talented group, the Browns may look to a couple of assistants on the staff of Jim Schwartz disciple Matt Burke — Dino Vasso and Cory Undlin,” Rapoport wrote on X.
However, in Monken’s introductory press conference, he said he would take his time building out his staff as he wants the right people.
“I don’t control that,” Monken said of when his staff will be hired. “I mean we’re going to vet as many candidates as we can to get it right. When I was the head coach at Southern Miss, we lost a coach and Pete Golding, who’s now the head coach at Ole Miss, he was our eighth safety interview, our eighth.
“Our D-coordinator was absolutely livid of why it took so long. We didn’t get the right hire; we hadn’t found it yet. I think, just like they all vetted for the head coach coaching position, don’t get worn out – make sure you get the right people at the start, and that’s what we’re going to do. So, there is no timeline to get it right.”
Now, Monken will need to hire a new defensive coordinator for the Browns.
Browns Wanted to Retain Schwartz
Cleveland had hoped to keep Schwartz as defensive coordinator if they didn’t give him the head coaching job.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam made it clear that he respected Schwartz and still wanted him on staff, regardless of whether they hired him as head coach or not.
“I would say this, we think a lot of Jim Schwartz. … Great coach,” Haslam said at the year-end press conference.
However, that will not happen as Schwartz decided to resign and take the year off. He served as the Detroit Lions head coach from 2009 until 2013, going 29-51.
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