Recent reports indicate that Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is getting a second interview with the team for the head coach vacancy. A Schwartz hire would be less of a change within the building than many have been anticipating with the firing of Kevin Stefanski. It would be an interesting indication of how the front office and ownership really feel about what this team needs.
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Although Schwartz has extensive experience in the league, he last
served as a head coach in 2013 with the Detroit Lions. The league has evolved significantly, and the role of the head coach has changed since 13 years ago when Schwartz held this role. It’s difficult to look at his time there and draw any clear conclusions about how he would fit as a head coach in 2026.
Elevating your own coordinator has also rarely worked in the NFL.
In some ways, elevating Schwartz to this position would feel like the team isn’t willing to evolve and think outside of the box. Even though the Browns’ defense is very talented, they certainly have their blemishes and have shown moments of weakness under Schwartz. A continuation of the same way of thinking from the last few seasons may create similar patterns rather than trying to make a bigger cultural shift.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Is hiring the head coach from inside the building the right move?
