The Browns conducted a second-round interview on Monday with current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for the team's head coach opening.
He completed his first interview with the Browns on Jan. 8 and is the first candidate to have a second interview.
Schwartz, 59, has served as the Browns defensive coordinator for three seasons. He re-joined the organization in 2023 after initially breaking into the NFL as a college/pro scout with the Browns from 1993-95.
Since the Browns hired Schwartz as defensive coordinator, Cleveland ranks first in a plethora of categories including total yards per game, opponent first downs allowed per game, third down percentage, fourth down percentage, total passing yards per game, first downs per pass attempt and most team tackles for a loss. The Browns also rank third in team sacks and are tied for second with eight defensive touchdowns.
Cleveland ended the 2025 regular season once again toward the top of the league, allowing the fourth-fewest total yards per game at 283.6 yards and third-fewest passing yards per game at 167.2 yards. They also finished third in the league with 53 sacks and set the franchise record for sacks by a Browns team in a season. DE Myles Garrett broke the NFL single-season sack record with 23 sacks.
The Browns have also 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.
Schwartz brings head coach experience to the table, as he was the head coach for the Detroit Lions from 2009-13. He directed the Lions to a 10-6 record in 2011, marking Detroit's first postseason appearance since 1999. In 2011, the Lions' defense led the NFL and set a franchise record with seven return touchdowns (five interceptions and two fumbles).
His 29 years of experience coaching in the NFL includes 17 seasons as a defensive coordinator, previously serving as defensive coordinator with the Titans (2001-08), Bills (2014) and Eagles (2016-20). He helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII, while leading the NFL in rush defense that season, allowing just 79.2 yards per game.
