Throughout the Browns' search for a new head coach, associate editor and staff writer Kelsey Russo will break down the candidates as they go through the interview process with the team. Let's look at Jim Schwartz, the Browns current defensive coordinator.
1) Schwartz broke into the NFL as a college/pro scout with the Browns from 1993-95, beginning as an unpaid intern. While in Cleveland, he worked with head coach Bill Belichick, defensive coordinator Nick Saban and several members of the personnel department that went on to become NFL general managers, including Ozzie Newsome, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, George Kokinis, Mike Lombardi and Phil Savage.
2) Schwartz re-joined the Browns in 2023 as defensive coordinator and was named the 2023 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year after his first season. Over his first three seasons, the Browns rank first in total yards per game (298.6), opponent first downs allowed per game (16.5), third down percentage (33.8 percent), fourth down percentage (41.2 percent), total passing yards per game (181.5), first downs per pass attempt (30.9 percent) and most team tackles-for-a-loss (342). They also rank third in team sacks at 143 and are tied for second with eight defensive touchdowns.
The Browns also have gone 45 straight games without allowing a 300-yard passer, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest streak by any NFL team since the Colts went 52 games from 2005-08.
3) During Schwartz's four seasons with the Eagles from 2016-20, he transformed Philadelphia's defense. He took over a defense that ranked 28th in points allowed per game and 30th in yards per game in 2015 and turned it into a unit that ranked 12th and 13th, respectively, in his first season. Then during his second season as defensive coordinator, the Eagles ranked fourth in the league in scoring defense, total defense and turnovers forced and first in rush defense. Philadelphia allowed a combined 17 points in its two NFC playoff victories before beating the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
4) Schwartz was the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009-13, finishing his tenure with a 29-52 record and one playoff appearance. He directed the Lions to a 10-6 record in 2011 with a young quarterback in Matthew Stafford and a stout defense. Their playoff berth marked Detroit's first postseason appearance since 1999, in which they fell 10-7 to the Saints in the Wild Card round. In 2011, the Lions' defense led the NFL and set a franchise record with seven return touchdowns (five interceptions and two fumbles).
"I really enjoyed my time there, my family did. I loved the players, I love the city, really loved the organization," Schwartz said September 2024. "Very grateful for my time there."
5) During 10 seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 1999-2008, the Titans appeared in Super Bowl XXXIV, played in two AFC Championship games, captured three division titles and earned six playoff berths. Schwartz first started with the Titans as a defensive assistant in 1999, then moved up to linebackers coach/third down package coach in 2000 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2001 – a role he held until 2008.
Schwartz returned to the Titans from 2021-22 as a senior defensive assistant.
"It was really an honor to be back in that organization," Schwartz said in September 2023. "It was an honor to work with guys and the staff. I think I have some lifelong friends on that staff, and I'm greatly indebted to (Mike Vrabel) for what he did and for helping me out. I just hope that I gave as much as I received in those two years."
