ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, along with team officials, was scheduled for a second interview after the team announced Kevin Stefanski had left the franchise after a five-win season.
The Browns and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz agreed to meet on Monday. Schefter reported on Saturday that Schwartz and the Browns' team officials would meet for a second interview regarding the vacant head coaching position.
The Browns officially parted ways with head coach Stefanski on Jan. 5. The former HC struggled with consistency during the 2025 season, and the Browns won five games. After a five-win season with the AFC team, Stefanski will accept a five-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Schwartz completed his initial interview for the job on Jan. 8. The DC has served in his current role since 2023, before emerging as a head coaching candidate.
In the 2025 regular season, the 59-year-old led a defensive unit that ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards allowed. Schwartz also oversaw a historic season, further establishing Myles Garrett as one of the top edge rushers in the NFL.
Garrett led the defense to a new NFL single-season record of 23.0 sacks, becoming one of the biggest storylines in the league. The "Wide-9" scheme was instrumental in the pass rush during the season, which led the team to rank third in the league with 53.0 total sacks. The scoring defense allowed 22.3 points per game under the direction of Schwartz.
Reportedly, Myles Garrett and CB Denzel Ward have provided public endorsements for the candidate:
“I have so much love and respect for Coach Schwartz,” Ward said, per The Chronicle. “I would highly recommend Coach Schwartz for a head coaching job here, definitely.”
Although there are no reports of Schwartz taking up the Baltimore Ravens job, there have been a few NFL teams that interviewed him this week. According to reports, the other candidates were of the understanding that Schwartz would stay on the staff even if he was not selected as the head coach.
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Cleveland Browns’ strategy for the upcoming season
The front office is in the midst of a massive evaluation of the quarterback room. So, in an analysis of the organizational strategy for the upcoming season, experts provided an assessment regarding the situation:
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, with Cleveland holding two first-round picks and facing a massive evaluation of the quarterback room involving Deshaun Watson and young signal-callers, Schwartz might be a stabilizer.
The management also indicated that if Schwartz provides the veteran leadership, then GM could also eye Rams pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, who is a target to pair with the defense.
The Browns' quest to find a new leader will continue on Monday. They will interview Huntington Bank Field in the latest step of the search.
Decision-makers will look to maintain the top-five defensive identity, with the foundation established during the 2025 campaign. The organization is in the midst of an overhaul of the offense under the direction of a new coordinator. While the search for the successor to Stefanski continues, many fans in the "Dawg Pound" are waiting for a final decision.
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