Cleveland Browns hire Jim Schwartz as next defensive coordinator
The Browns are turning to Tennessee Titans senior defensive assistant Jim Schwartz to be their next defensive coordinator, the team officially announced on Wednesday.
Schwartz, 56, replaces Joe Woods, who was fired hours after the Browns’ 7-10 season concluded last week. Schwartz was one of four individuals interviewed over the last week, along with Seattle Seahawks associate head coach/defense Sean Desai, Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach Brian Flores and Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Dennard Wilson.
“Jim Schwartz has been an outstanding coach in this league for a very long time, and we are thrilled that he is joining our staff to lead our defense as the defensive coordinator,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said in a statement. “Jim has seen defensive success at each of his coaching stops because he knows how to get the best out of his players and will match scheme to suit strengths. Jim is a passionate leader who believes in teaching fundamentals. We’re excited about the vast experience he brings to our staff to meet the demands it takes to consistently defend the varying offenses in the AFC North and across the National Football League.”
Schwartz is expected to meet with the media at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Browns will be the fourth team in Schwartz’s coaching career for which he’s served as defensive coordinator. He also held the job for the Titans (2001-08), Buffalo Bills (2014) and Philadelphia Eagles (2016-20).
Schwartz also was the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009-13. He went 29-52, with an appearance in the 2011 NFC Wild Card game.
There’s a connection between Schwartz and Browns general manager Andrew Berry, who worked together with the Eagles. While Schwartz was defensive coordinator in 2019, Berry served as Vice President of Football Operations before he returned to the Browns in his current role as general manager.
Schematically, Schwartz has been a 4-3 proponent, which is the same base scheme Woods used. He’s favored man-to-man coverage, while Woods preferred zone.
Man-to-man coverage could be a benefit to the Browns secondary, which boasts a Pro Bowl-caliber No. 1 cornerback in Denzel Ward and two solid corners both in their first three years in the league in Greg Newsome and Martin Emerson Jr.
“Honestly I think it’s just going to be kind of the same thing, just keeping things more simpler,” Newsome said of his scheme preference the day after the season finale. “Allowing playmakers to go out there and make plays. Keeping eyes on the quarterback, things like that. Kind of the stuff we are doing towards the end of the season.”
A key to the success of Schwartz’s wide-nine front look is defensive tackles, an area where the Browns struggled last season. Their four primary defensive tackles — Taven Bryan, Jordan Elliott, Perrion Winfrey and Tommy Togiai — all were graded among the worst in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.
However, Berry seemed to hint the Browns’ philosophy toward the position could be swayed.
“We will always try and match the personnel to the schematic vision for the coach,” Berry said during a press conference the day after the season finale. “Our coaches do a really good job of telling us what they need and what they need in a particular scheme or a particular defense. Certainly, that position in particular, as Kevin selects a defensive coordinator, we will link up with that individual and make sure that we are searching for individuals who have the traits and skills necessary to perform their jobs within that.”
Schwartz started his NFL career with the Browns in 1993 as a personnel scout under Bill Belichick. He was one of the famed “slappies” for Belichick, a group of young men trying to just break into the business in any way they possibly could.
Many of those “slappies” have gone on to become prominent coaches or NFL executives, including Eric Mangini, Phil Savage, Scott Pioli, Thomas Dimitroff and Kirk Ferentz.