The Cleveland Browns find themselves in a tricky spot - one that’s as much about relationships and locker room dynamics as it is about X’s and O’s. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who helped engineer one of the league’s most physical and disciplined defenses this past season, is reportedly unhappy after being passed over for the head coaching job in favor of Todd Monken. And while Schwartz is still under contract for another year, the tension here isn’t exactly subtle.
Team owner Jimmy Haslam has made it clear he wants Schwartz to stay. That’s no surprise - Schwartz’s unit was a force, and his track record speaks for itself.
But here’s the catch: Schwartz might not want to stay. And if that’s the case, keeping him around could end up doing more harm than good.
This situation brings to mind a similar moment from a decade ago, when then-offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan wanted out of Cleveland to take the same role with the Atlanta Falcons. Shanahan reportedly built a 32-point presentation - with help from a young Mike McDaniel - that convinced head coach Mike Pettine and the Browns’ brass to let him walk.
It was an unusual move, but it worked. Shanahan got his exit, and the Browns avoided dragging out a situation that had clearly run its course.
Schwartz may need to consider a similar approach. If he’s truly checked out, staying on - even with Monken reportedly open to keeping him - could create more friction than cohesion.
Defensive coordinators aren’t just drawing up blitz packages; they’re setting the tone, leading meetings, and shaping the identity of half the team. If that leader isn’t fully bought in, it’s hard to build anything sustainable.
What makes this even more complicated is Haslam’s reported insistence on keeping Schwartz in the fold - so much so that some younger head coaching candidates backed out of the process, unwilling to inherit a staff they couldn’t shape themselves. That’s a bold stance from ownership, and in hindsight, it may have backfired. The Browns didn’t just lose out on fresh coaching talent; they now risk alienating a respected coordinator they were trying to retain.
This is one of those moments where the intentions are good - Haslam clearly values what Schwartz brings to the table - but the execution raises questions. NFL teams function best when the football people are allowed to make football decisions. When ownership gets too involved in staffing or scheme, it can muddy the waters and slow momentum at a time when clarity and cohesion are critical.
The Browns are entering a new era under Monken. Whether you’re building around a new quarterback, rebooting the offense, or reshaping the locker room culture, that kind of transition requires alignment across the board. If Schwartz no longer sees himself as part of that vision, the cleanest move might be to let him pursue opportunities elsewhere - professionally and respectfully.
No one’s questioning Schwartz’s impact. He delivered one of the best defensive seasons Cleveland has seen in years.
But this is the NFL - timing, fit, and buy-in matter just as much as talent. If the Browns want to move forward without internal friction, they may need to take a page from their own history and allow a respected coach to walk away on his terms.