The NFL is a brotherhood. Coaches come and go, and at some point, a lot of coaches end up working together, even if for one season. Then guys move to another opportunity, and a new tutor appears on the coaching staff. So, the relationships that these coaches foster just keep growing.
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The Cleveland Browns fired their head coach, Kevin Stefanski. He was at the helm of the franchise for six years. For this team, that was a long tenure since the new
Browns appeared on the scene in 1999. Six years of stability is a blessing for most clubs.
And the decision to let Stefanski walk probably wasn’t an easy one for owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. After all, Stefanski was named NFL Coach of the Year twice. And he got the Browns into the playoffs in 2020 after a 17-year drought.
However, the NFL is a results league, and losing 14 games in 2024 and 12 this year were just too much to ignore.
And now, the interview process is underway. Eight NFL teams have fired their head man. That means that eight new head coaches will patrol the sidelines in 2026, including the Browns.
There are plenty of rules that teams must follow if their candidate is employed by a team that is in this year’s playoffs.
However, it does not appear that former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh will become the next guy in Cleveland. Before this past weekend, reports came out that Harbaugh was going to weigh his options, take the playoff weekend, then pare his list down from eight to just a few.
Now, after this past weekend, Harbaugh reportedly has his choices: the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Football Giants.
The Falcons are an odd choice. Harbaugh grew up in Ohio and Michigan, attended college in Ohio, and then every coaching job he has had was in a cold-weather environment. Five college gigs, the Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore. All in freezing temps in the latter months.
Atlanta is not only a Southern area where it gets hot for at least nine months of the calendar, but they have a dome. Their practice facility is air-conditioned.
The Giants make more sense. Their stadium is outdoors, although their main practice facility is indoors, mainly for rainy days.
The point is: Harbaugh is not coming to Cleveland, it seems.
So, who is? Mike Tomlin? What will most likely happen with Tomlin is that he will accept a broadcasting job in a studio rather than a booth, take a year off, then return, just like Sean Payton did, and select the team he wants.
So, again, who will become the next head coach with the Browns?
Jim Schwartz.
Jimmy and Dee Haslam love Schwartz. Browns GM Andrew Berry loves Schwartz. He came into Cleveland and took some talent and transformed the defense into one of the league’s best. Continually.
Because the Browns are not involved in this year’s postseason tournament, both Schwartz and OC Tommy Rees were available for interviews with any club at any time. Schwartz, age 59, has already interviewed with Browns.
Schwartz is already under contract with the Browns for next season as their DC. It’s possible that if a new guy were hired as head coach, he could retain Schwartz in his current role. But that’s just “if.” The new head coach can hire anybody he wants, and usually, guys bring in their own coaches as assistants because they are familiar with them.
And Schwartz has been an NFL head coach before, when he was hired by the Detroit Lions from 2009 to 2013, where he finished with a record of 29-51. They went to the playoffs in a single season (2011) after going 10-6-0. During his tenure as head coach, QB Matthew Stafford was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, while DT Ndamukong Suh was voted the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Simply moving Schwartz into the big office at the Berea training facility would keep the ball rolling for the defense. Rees could be retained to run the offensive side of the ball.
The choice of Schwartz just seems like a safe decision. He offers stability and strict discipline. And it would keep their defensive players content, such as Myles Garrett, who has a man-crush on Schwartz. Garrett will most likely win his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award this season.
Think about it: Garrett was in the league all those years, and as soon as the Browns hire Schwartz to lead the defense, Garrett wins two DPOY trophies. That is not by chance. Schwartz elevates his players.
Also, for this season, rookie LB Carson Schwesinger is the most likely candidate to capture the NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Year award. Again, not by chance.
The Browns could turn to a young, offensive-minded hire instead. Everyone knows the offense needs a lot of attention and new bodies. The quarterback situation is front and center as next year’s QB room should be Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. And who knows? Watson might light up the league and have an exceptional comeback.
But if Schwartz was hired to run this team, he is going to need a rocket scientist to run the offense and turn the ship around. Now.
Editor’s note: The Jim Schwartz conversation begins at 1:53:20
Cleveland might require a man with plenty of experience, instead of Rees, to lead an offensive transition while keeping the defense as one of the preeminent units in the NFL going forward. A guy like Mike McDaniel or Kliff Kingsbury could come in and become that catalyst for that side of the ball. Then, have Berry focus on offense in both free agency and the NFL draft.
Hiring Schwartz would be the easy move, and really, it makes the most sense. And if they don’t move him to head coach, they run the risk of losing him to another team that will swoop down and carry him off to a playoff caliber club.
The Baltimore Ravens have already requested an interview with Schwartz.
Schwartz deserves a shot at being a head coach again. He is a leader of men. If Cleveland wants him, they have better lock him down quickly and get this settled.
Is Schwartz the right candidate to lead the Browns going forward? If not, what will happen with this defense? Remember when Bill Callahan had the offensive line group as a Top-3 group several years in a row? Remember when Callahan left, that same group fell off the face of the planet into oblivion?
Yes, the offensive side of the roster needs a lot of work. But don’t sacrifice an elite defense loaded with talent in a desperate attempt to fix the offense. Keep in mind, the defense is the dominant part of this franchise.
Give Schwartz the keys to the big office.
