The Cleveland Browns and defensive mastermind Jim Schwartz have officially parted ways-or at least, that’s how it looks on the surface.
On Thursday, Schwartz resigned from his role as defensive coordinator, stepping away with the stated expectation that he won’t coach during the 2026 season. But in the NFL, expectations are fluid. And when a coach of Schwartz’s pedigree walks away under these circumstances, you can’t help but wonder: is this truly the end, or just a pause?
Let’s rewind. The Browns made a bold move by hiring Todd Monken as their new head coach, a decision that left Schwartz, the architect of one of the league’s most aggressive and effective defenses, on the outside looking in. That decision sparked what felt like a quiet standoff-Schwartz still under contract through 2026, the Browns holding an option for 2027, and both sides seemingly waiting to see who would blink first.
Well, Schwartz blinked. At least officially.
But here’s the twist: even though he’s stepped down, he’s not technically free to roam. He remains under contract with Cleveland, which means he can’t just walk into another coordinator job elsewhere-unless the Browns let him.
And that’s where things get interesting.
Let’s say the Raiders, who are expected to bring in Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, want Schwartz to run their defense. Normally, there’s no mechanism to “trade” for an assistant coach.
That’s a luxury reserved for head coaches. But the NFL is nothing if not creative when it comes to bending the rules within the lines.
Could the Raiders and Browns work out a larger deal-one involving draft picks or players-that just so happens to include Schwartz being released from his contract? It wouldn’t be the first time teams found a workaround to make something happen behind the scenes. The league year kicks off March 11, and that’s when any such transaction could become official.
For now, Schwartz is out of the picture. But if you know anything about his competitive fire and football IQ, it’s hard to imagine he’s walking away for good. The man didn’t just coordinate a defense-he built a unit that played with his edge, his intensity, and his fingerprints all over it.
So while the Browns move forward with Monken and a new vision, and while Schwartz takes his so-called sabbatical, don’t be shocked if this story picks up steam again. Especially if the Raiders-or any team looking for a defensive spark-decide they’re willing to get creative.
Because in the NFL, nothing is truly over until the ink dries. And even then, contracts have a funny way of becoming negotiable when the right opportunity knocks.