Monken beat Schwartz for the head coaching job, and Schwartz reportedly left the building angry, vowing not to return as the Browns’ defensive coordinator. With Monken assembling his offensive staff, the defense has not yet been addressed, keeping the possibility of Schwartz’s return in play.
On Schwartz specifically, Monken refrained from specifics but offered high praise, stating, “Jim Schwartz is an excellent defensive coordinator,” while adding that it’s “inappropriate for me to comment on that at this time.”
The Schwartz situation is the final major domino in a coaching-search drama that unfolded over a little more than three weeks from Kevin Stefanski’s firing to Monken’s official introduction. The Browns initially pursued John Harbaugh, who instead took the Giants job. Ten candidates were considered, with six in-person interviews planned; several preemptively declined—Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter, Grant Udinski, and Anthony Lynn—leaving Monken, Schwartz, and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase as finalists.
Monken’s résumé is a blend of college and NFL experiences. He has spent most of his career in college football, including roles at Eastern Michigan, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma State, LSU, and a two-year stint as head coach at Southern Miss. His NFL track record includes a receivers coach stint with the Jaguars (2007-10) and three seasons as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, followed by a return to the NFL with Cleveland. Baltimore’s offense ranked No. 5 in Monken’s first year and No. 1 in 2024, though the Browns’ offense has been a persistent challenge, with PFF ratings of No. 28 in 2023, No. 32 in 2024, and No. 32 in 2025.
As Monken builds his staff in Cleveland, the balance of how the defense is handled could influence the trajectory of his tenure. The Browns’ immediate task is to improve an offense that has trended poorly by PFF standards, while the potential return of Schwartz would provide continuity on defense during what remains a pivotal transition for the franchise.
