The Cleveland Browns may not have to look too far to find their next head coach.
Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward spoke publicly on Monday, January 5, the same day the team fired Kevin Stefanski after six years on the job, and pitched defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz as his successor.
“So much love and respect for Coach Schwartz. Me, I would highly recommend Coach Schwartz for a head coaching job here, definitely,” Ward said. “Like I said before, he’s a great coach. He’s helped my game tremendously. Puts us in great position, great leader, and I can’t say enough great things about him.”
“I think he’s a guy who you want in a coach and somebody to lead a team,” Ward continued. “And yeah, I know he’s the guy. He’s a great guy.”
Jim Schwartz Has Super Bowl Ring as DC, Put Together Two Top-5 Defenses With Browns in Past 3 Years
GettyDefensive coordinator Jim Schwartz of the Cleveland Browns.
Schwartz has 17 years of NFL experience just as a defensive coordinator, including the last three seasons running that side of the football for the Browns.
The one part of Cleveland’s operation that has consistently worked over the past three years has been the defense, which finished fourth in the NFL in 2025 based on yardage surrendered (283.6 yards per game). The unit was below average in that category last season (19th overall), but was also first in total defense league-wide in 2023.
Schwartz also has head coaching experience, running the Detroit Lions from 2009-13. He finished that job with an overall win/loss record of 29-51 and one playoff appearance (0-1).
Two years after his exit from Detroit, Schwartz joined the Philadelphia Eagles and served as the defensive coordinator of that organization for five seasons, winning a Super Bowl ring there in 2018. He was out of the league in 2021 and 2022 before returning to a DC role in Cleveland and immediately cobbling together the top defense in the NFL.
Schwartz will turn 60 years old in June.
Jim Schwartz Shut Down Recent Questions About Becoming NFL Head Coach Again
GettyCleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Schwartz has indicated in the past that he might consider another head coaching opportunity if it presented itself.
Reporters asked the Browns DC last week about whether he plans to pursue such a job this offseason, though Schwartz quickly shut that conversation down.
“Yeah, I’ve answered that question a lot of times, and I just want to keep focus on the Cincinnati Bengals. Like, we need to finish with a win,” Schwartz said. “I think I’m gonna respect this game and keep the focus on this game, because anything else is not what we’re focused on this week.”
Cleveland focused on Cincinnati well enough to beat the Bengals 20-18 on the road in Week 18 and finish the year with consecutive wins against AFC North Division opponents after besting the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6 the week prior.
Defensive end Myles Garrett also made history on Sunday, January 4, sacking Bengals QB Joe Burrow and breaking the single-season record in that statistical category with 23 sacks on the season.
Media members asked Garrett last week about whether he would support Stefanski’s return for a seventh season with the Browns or if he wanted a new head coach to replace him.
“I want things to be successful,” Garrett said. “However that looks.”
Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward Pitches Browns on New Coach After Stefanski Fired