Browns coaching rumor gives Bills, Giants, Raiders legendary coordinator candidate

The Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and Las Vegas Raiders are in the market for defensive coordinators.

Buffalo is unlikely to keep Bobby Babich as the defensive coordinator after replacing Sean McDermott with Joe Brady at head coach.

New York is looking for a new coordinator after hiring John Hatbaugh, while Las Vegas could also look to replace Patrick Graham if the new head coach wants to bring in a new face to lead the defense.

Luckily for these three teams, an elite defensive coordinator candidate is expected to hit the market after the Cleveland Browns hired Todd Monken to be their head coach on Wednesday.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was furious after the team hired Monken over him as head coach.

As a result, Schwartz said his goodbyes and has no plans to return to Cleveland.

"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," Pelissero reported on X. "Schwartz is under contract and Cleveland wants to retain him. But his future is now unclear."

Schwartz is a legendary defensive coordinator with 17 years of experience in the position.

The 59-year-old has led multiple elite defenses throughout his career, and his Browns' defense kept the team somewhat competitive in 2025.

If Schwartz does depart Cleveland, he will be a highly-coveted coordinator candidate. Buffalo, New York, and Las Vegas make sense as landing spots, especially the Bills and Raiders.

Buffalo has a young head coach in Brady, and Las Vegas is also expected to do the same. Hiring a veteran defensive coordinator like Schwartz would be logical.

However, don't count out Harbaugh and the Giants. New York could also make a run at Schwartz and boast one of the NFL's most experienced coaching staffs.