According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Browns defensive coordinator and former head-coaching candidate Jim Schwartz was “visibly upset” upon learning that Monken would take over. Schwartz had reportedly told other Browns coaches that he wouldn’t return to Cleveland for anything less than a head coaching role.
Schwartz now emerges as a hot option on the defensive-coordinator market, with several playoff-contending teams reportedly seeking a DC. The Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, and Pittsburgh Steelers are noted contenders, while the San Francisco 49ers also need a new defensive leader after Robert Saleh landed another head coaching opportunity.
Even with the interest, Schwartz is expected to need time to recalibrate before his next move. Any team seeking an interview would have to schedule one with the former Detroit Lions head coach, a process that could unfold in the near future.
Related reads include NFL Power Rankings Before the Super Bowl: Top 2026 NFL Draft Target for Each Team, and other notable items such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reaching out to top future HC candidates, Tom Brady’s comments on Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub, and the Arizona Cardinals’ interview of a two-time NFL Coach of the Year.
More must-reads: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Reached Out to Top Future HC Candidate; Tom Brady Breaks Silence on Bill Belichick’s Stunning Hall of Fame Snub; Arizona Cardinals Interview 2x NFL Coach of the Year.
