Jim Schwartz evidently has no interest in being a part of the new coaching regime in Cleveland. On Thursday, he officially submitted his resignation letter as defensive coordinator, a role he held with the Browns organization for 3 seasons.
He was considered a top candidate to replace Kevin Stefanki as the team’s coach. Instead, the front office went with Todd Monken, the former offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens. Him leaving Cleveland following Monken’s hiring was widely expected.
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The Browns have said the search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately. As for Schwartz, given his vast experience and track record of success, there are sure to be plenty of teams inquiring about his services.
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In his first season as Browns defensive coordinator, Schwartz’s group led the NFL in total defense and pass defense, He was named the AP’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023.
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Here are a list of teams that may be putting out a call to the veteran defensive coordinator.
1.Dallas Cowboys
Matt Eberflus’ defense in Dallas was a disaster in 2025. They allowed the third-most yards per game defensively at 377.0, and without Micah Parsons, didn’t get to many quarterbacks, registering a mere 35 as a team, good for 24th in the league.
Schwartz has a track record for building vaunted defenses putting even the most mobile of quarterbacks under duress. During his tenure in Cleveland, Myles Garrett was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, setting an NFL record with 23 sacks. Overall, though, Schwartz knows how to get the best out of his defensive linemen and make life very hard on quarterbacks.
As such, he’d be an ideal addition to Brian Schottenheimer’s staff in 2026.
2. New York Giants
John Harbaugh has a strong track record for success as a coach, but turning around the Giants will not be easy. Last season, the G-Men were among the easiest teams to run on, allowing an average of 145.3 yards per game. Schwartz’s Browns defense allowed nearly 30 fewer yards per game on the ground in 2025.
The Giants have plenty of young pieces with potential, but they need the right guy to take their game to the next level. Schwartz could be an ideal person to groom the talent on this team and help expedite the turnaround for this one mighty franchise.
3. New York Jets
Sticking in New York, the Jets are another team that would benefit greatly from Schwartz’s experience and wisdom. Their first season with defensive guru Aaron Glenn did not go as well as many had hoped.
The veteran seemed to struggle with the task of overseeing several areas rather than what he’s used to, which is just the defense. The Jets gave up 355.6 yards per game in 2025, a huge drop from their 2024 numbers when they gave up the third-fewest yards per game in the league at 313.8.
With a reliable playcaller like Schwartz, Glenn should be able to rest easy knowing that group is in capable hands. Having Schwartz there could take a lot of pressure off Glenn’s shoulders.
4. San Francisco 49ers
The Niners’ Super Bowl window appears to be closing fast. That is an area that’s been holding them back from getting back to the big game and hopefully lifting the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since the 1995 season.
With Robert Saleh off to Tennessee, Kyle Shanahan could use another strong leader who knows what it takes to raise the level of the defense. Schwartz has not only elevated many of his defensive units, but he’s got Super Bowl experience, having served as a coordinator for Doug Pederson when the Philadelphia Eagles won their first title in 2018.
5. Green Bay Packers
Like San Francisco, the Green Bay Packers are always in the NFC mix but can’t seem to get over that line. Having someone with playoff experience, as Schwartz has, could be a huge asset to a team like the Niners, which are in win-now mode.
Even with Micah Parsons, the Packers were 21st in team sacks last season, recording 36. There are pieces on that line who underperformed their potential in 2025, and Schwartz might just be the right guy to get them back on the right path.
Edited by Joel Lefevre
