The Cleveland Browns already have to replace offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and will probably have to do the same with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. And as of Thursday, special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone made it three-for-three.
Following the Browns’ eyebrow-raising decision to hire former Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken over Schwartz or Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, Ventrone made the call to leave the organization for L.A.
“#Rams hiring Bubba Ventrone, per a league source, to lead their special teams,” Aaron Wilson reported via X on January 29.
Rumors that Ventrone was likely to depart Cleveland if Schwartz didn’t get the head coaching position began to float even before the Browns made their final decision. It turns out those whispers generated from well-informed sources, as Ventrone took his leave essentially 24 hours after the team hired Monken.
Browns Perhaps Made Critical Error Passing Over Jim Schwartz for Head Coach Position
GettyCleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
The Ventrone departure follows quickly on the heels of Schwartz letting essentially anyone within the organization willing to listen know that he’s not interested in returning after the team interviewed him twice for the head coaching job and then landed on Monken.
Schwartz, a former NFL head coach with the Detroit Lions for five years from 2009-13 (29-51, 0-1), spent the last three years as DC with the Browns. The unit finished first in the league in 2023 and fourth overall last season.
“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,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported Wednesday. “Schwartz is under contract and Cleveland wants to retain him. But his future is now unclear.”
Several star players on defense backed Schwartz for the HC position, and some Browns insiders have now speculated that the fallout of Cleveland’s decision to go with Monken could prove catastrophic.
“I don’t know that people understand how bad it could get for Browns if Schwartz leaves, and on bad terms,” Ashley Bastock of Cleveland.com posted to X Wednesday. “Players on that defense, including Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, love playing for Jim. The impact of the ripple effect could be incomprehensible.”
Andrew Berry’s Future With Browns Also in Question After Todd Monken Hire
GettyCleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
The mass exodus of the coaching staff in Cleveland could potentially extend to the front office and general manager Andrew Berry.
Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland reported Wednesday that owner Jimmy Haslam’s decision to go with Monken was a break from Berry’s recommendation, who Haslam kept on this offseason and tapped to lead the HC search.
“This indicates that Haslam was never comfortable with Scheelhaase, and he went against the recommendation of his search committee leader and GM, so you gotta wonder about the future of Andrew Berry,” Grossi said. “They chose offense over defense, and they weren’t comfortable with Scheelhaase. This is all on Haslam.”
Browns Lose Another Top Coach to NFC Amid Todd Monken Fallout