The Cleveland Browns are not quite done with coach Jim Schwartz just yet. While Schwartz has attracted interest as a potential head coach for the Baltimore Ravens, he is still in the running for the Browns as the head coach to replace fired former coach Kevin Stefanski, who brought Schwartz to Cleveland as the defensive coordinator in 2023.
According to Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Schwartz will have a second interview with the team next week, as the Browns begin the process of narrowing the initial pool of candidates to a final group.
Wrote Cabot on Friday, “Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will get a second head coach interview with the team on Monday, a league source told cleveland.com.”
Browns Will Also Interview Todd Monken Again
Also getting a second interview, according to a report from Peter Schrager of ESPN, is Todd Monken, the former Ravens offensive coordinator who is likely to join new Giants coach John Harbaugh as the OC in New York–unless he gets a head coaching gig.
As Ben Axelrod of Awful Announcing wrote on Twitter/X: “Peter Schrager said on Bill Simmons’ podcast that Todd Monken will have a second head coaching interview with the Browns next week. Said he’s not a done deal as Giants OC.”
While second interviews are being worked out, the Browns are still in the process of completing the first round. On Friday, the team announced it has interviewed Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter for the head coaching job.
Still to come are Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
GettyEx-Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken
Jim Schwartz Struggled in 1st Go-Round as Coach
If there is hesitation on making Schwartz the Browns’ next head coach, it stems from the fact that the last time he was a coach, things did not go so well. Schwartz coached the Detroit Lions from 2009-13, and the team went 29-51 under his watch. And that was with a rookie named Matthew Stafford under center from the beginning of his tenure.
Schwartz has been one of the top defensive minds in the game in the intervening years, first as the Bills‘ defensive coordinator for a season, then spending five years with the Eagles, where he helped win a Super Bowl. With the Browns over the last three seasons, the defense has blossomed–in Pro Football Focus’ rankings, the Browns were 26th before Schwartz arrived but have been sixth, eighth and second defensively with him in charge.
Browns Stars Support Jim Schwartz
Throughout the season, Browns star defenders have spoken about Schwartz’s influence.
Star pass-rusher Myles Garrett said, “I like Jim; I like the coaches that we have. So, I don’t know what’s going to be in the future. Would I like to play under Jim? Would I like to keep the team and for us to improve? Absolutely.”
“I have so much love and respect for Coach Schwartz,” said star cornerback Denzel Ward. “Me, I would highly recommend Coach Schwartz for a head coaching job here, definitely.
“He’s a great coach. He’s helped my game tremendously, puts us in great positions, great leader. I can’t say enough great things about him, but I think he’s a guy that who you want in a coach and somebody to lead a team. And yeah, I know he’s a guy, he’s a great guy.”
Popular Browns Coach to Get 2nd Interview as Stefanski Replacement