The Cleveland Browns hired Todd Monken as head coach. According to multiple national reporters, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was “visibly upset” at the hire after thinking he was going to be the head honcho in Cleveland.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted that the San Francisco 49ers, among others, would likely have interest in Schwartz’s services if and when he becomes available. Pelissero’s tweet also said that Schwartz had told people inside the Browns building that he wasn’t staying in Cleveland
if he was passed over.
Schwartz, who turns 60 in June, has been coaching in the NFL since the early ’90s. He’s been a coordinator or a head coach every year since 2001, save the 2021-2022 seasons. Experience is not an issue here. Neither is success.
Schwartz coordinated the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, when they finished fourth in EPA per play and seventh in success rate. As recently as this past season, Schwartz continued to thrive. The Browns were fourth in EPA per play and success rate.
It would be a significant change in philosophy. The 49ers were more of a rush four, low blitz rate, and played top-down defense. Under Schwartz, the Browns were an aggressive man-coverage team. No team ran a higher rate of man coverage this past season than Cleveland, at 43.4 percent. The 49ers were near the bottom in the same category at 17 percent.
Cleveland also blitzed 27.8 percent of the time, which was the 10th-highest rate in the league. That’s a drastic difference from the 49ers’ 21.7 percent, which was 23rd.
Schwartz still being under contract complicates things, but if the worry was finding someone who might leave for another head-coaching job, Schwartz would be Shanahan’s version of Steve Spagnuolo—a lifer as a coordinator. But that also doesn’t feel accurate, considering Schwartz is only in this position because he was passed over for a head coaching job.
Since football has a way of connecting itself, Schwartz might need to do what Kyle Shanahan did a decade ago to get out of his contract:
Regardless, it’s a situation worth monitoring, as it could lead to several personnel changes, specifically in the secondary. The 49ers do not possess multiple man-to-man coverage cornerbacks or safeties. Hiring Schwartz would likely mean there is some roster turnover this offseason.
It’s no secret that Shanahan is a fan of Schwartz, who also has ties to Kris Kocurek. If there’s a coach in the NFL who could revamp the defense, it’s Schwartz.
