According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Browns are hiring Jim Schwartz as their defensive coordinator.
CLEVELAND — Nearly one week after firing Joe Woods, the Cleveland Browns have their man. According to multiple reports, the Browns are hiring Tennessee Titans senior defensive assistant Jim Schwartz as their new defensive coordinator.
A native of Baltimore, Schwartz is no stranger to Cleveland as he began his 30-year career in the NFL in 1993 as a personnel scout with the Browns. When the franchise moved to Baltimore, so did Schwartz, as he served as an outside linebackers coach with the Ravens from 1996-98.
Following the firing of head coach Ted Marchibroda, Schwartz joined the Titans staff as a defensive assistant. In 2001, he was promoted to defensive coordinator — a role he held until 2009, when he was hired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions.
In five seasons as the Lions head coach, the former Georgetown linebacker amassed a 29-51 record. His best season came in 2011 when Detroit went 10-6 and earned its first playoff appearance since the 1999 season.
After being fired by the Lions following the 2013 season, Schwartz was hired as the defensive coordinator on Doug Marrone’s staff with the Buffalo Bills. After Marrone exercised an out clause following the sale of the Bills, and the conclusion of the season, Schwartz joined the Philadelphia Eagles as head coach Doug Pederson’s defensive coordinator.
In 2017, Schwartz oversaw a Philadelphia defense that ranked fourth in yards allowed and fourth in scoring as the Eagles went on to defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. He resigned from Philadelphia following the 2021 season before returning to Tennessee as an assistant on head coach Mike Vrabel’s staff with the Titans.
In addition to Schwartz, the Browns interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach Brian Flores and Seattle Seahawks defensive assistant Sean Desai for their vacant defensive coordinator position.