With Jim Schwartz stepping down as the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator, the team now faces a critical decision - and the timing couldn’t be tougher. Most of the NFL’s 2026 hiring cycle is already in the rearview mirror, meaning the Browns are entering the coordinator market when most of the top names are already off the board.
Still, Cleveland isn’t starting from scratch. Head coach Todd Monken reportedly wants to keep the current defensive system intact - a system that helped power one of the league’s most disruptive units last season.
That continuity could be key, especially with several of Schwartz’s top assistants still in-house. If the Browns want to promote from within, they’ve got a few names worth watching.
Safeties coach Ephraim Banda might be the most obvious candidate. He’s already drawn interest from around the league, having interviewed for defensive coordinator jobs with both the Jets and Cowboys last month.
That kind of attention doesn’t happen by accident. Banda’s stock is clearly rising, and if Cleveland wants a fresh voice without overhauling the scheme, he fits the bill.
Other internal options include cornerbacks coach Brandon Lynch, linebackers coach Jason Tarver, and defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire. All four have been instrumental in developing a defense that was among the league’s best at creating pressure and limiting big plays. Promoting one of them would maintain the system’s core principles while rewarding continuity - something that matters when you’re working with a group that’s already bought in.
But if Monken decides to look outside the building for a new voice - while still preserving the Schwartz blueprint - there are a couple of intriguing names tied to a familiar coaching tree.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport pointed to two assistants on the Houston Texans' staff as potential targets: Dino Vasso and Cory Undlin. Both have deep ties to Schwartz and current Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke, who is himself a Schwartz disciple. That connection matters - not just because of shared terminology and philosophy, but because it signals a level of trust and familiarity that can make for a smoother transition.
Vasso, 38, is currently coaching Houston’s standout secondary, which includes talents like Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. He was part of Schwartz’s staff in Philadelphia and even served as an assistant defensive coordinator there in 2020. His experience in the system and recent work with one of the league’s top young DB groups makes him a compelling candidate.
Undlin, meanwhile, brings both familiarity and experience. Browns fans might remember his earlier stint in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008, when he held a variety of roles, including work with special teams and defensive backs.
Like Vasso, he spent time under Schwartz in Philadelphia and has been Houston’s defensive passing game coordinator since 2023. At 54, he’d bring a veteran presence and a deep understanding of the system Cleveland wants to maintain.
If the Browns are serious about keeping the Schwartz scheme intact - but want to inject some fresh leadership into the mix - poaching Vasso or Undlin from Houston makes a lot of sense. Both coaches know the system inside and out, and both have been part of successful defensive operations in recent years.
Yes, the timing of Schwartz’s resignation complicates things. And yes, many of the big-name defensive coordinators have already been scooped up.
But that doesn’t mean Cleveland is out of options. Whether they promote from within or tap into the Schwartz-Burke coaching tree, the Browns still have a path forward - one that could keep their defense among the NFL’s elite in 2026 and beyond.