The Cleveland Browns’ head coaching decision may cost them their defensive coordinator.
Jim Schwartz was “visibly upset” after being passed over for the Browns job on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Schwartz said goodbye to fellow coaches and told them that he did not plan to return after not getting the job.
After the Browns informed DC Jim Schwartz this morning they were passing him over to hire Todd Monken as head coach, Schwartz was visibly upset, said goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he’s not coming back, sources tell The Insiders.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 28, 2026
Schwartz is under contract and… pic.twitter.com/GBEct9BRPB
Schwartz is still under contract with the Browns, and the team would like him to remain defensive coordinator under new coach Todd Monken. That appears to be an increasingly unlikely outcome based on his reaction, though.
Schwartz has been Cleveland’s defensive coordinator since 2023. He has consistently delivered quality defenses and was viewed as a serious candidate to get promoted to the head coaching job once the team fired Kevin Stefanski. Schwartz clearly felt he deserved the opportunity and was frustrated to lose out to Monken, who the team hired instead.
The Browns will have an uphill task trying to convince Schwartz to stay on under a new head coach. Perhaps he will change his mind, but the team may be left with no choice but to find a new defensive coordinator.
