NFL Coaching Notes: Ward Reacts to Schwartz Exit, O’Leary Embraces Chargers Role, Vrabel Praises Patriots Assistant
Cleveland Browns: Ward Reflects on Schwartz Departure
Denzel Ward didn’t hide his hope that Jim Schwartz would remain in Cleveland. The Browns cornerback was pulling for the veteran defensive coordinator to stick around as the team made its head coaching decision. But when the Browns pivoted and hired Todd Monken instead, Schwartz chose to resign.
Ward admitted he wasn’t fully in the loop on the behind-the-scenes details, but it was clear he valued what Schwartz brought to the defense.
“I’m not sure what was true or was not true, so I’m not going to speculate,” Ward said. “I’m just going to wait to see how everything plays out and look forward to, hopefully we’re still keeping him.”
That hope, of course, didn’t pan out. Schwartz’s departure marks a significant shift for one of the league’s most aggressive and effective defensive units.
Under his guidance, Cleveland’s defense took a major leap, consistently applying pressure and forcing offenses into uncomfortable situations. Now, with Monken taking the reins, the Browns will need to find a new architect for that side of the ball-one who can maintain the edge Schwartz helped instill.
Los Angeles Chargers: O’Leary’s Move a “No-Brainer”
For new Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary, the decision to join John Harbaugh’s staff came quickly-but not without emotion.
O’Leary described the move as a “no-brainer,” thanks in large part to the personal connections he already had with players, staff, and the personnel department in Los Angeles. Those relationships, he said, made the transition feel right from the jump.
“It was just the calls and texts from those guys that really solidified for me, ‘Man, I’m making the right decision,’” O’Leary shared.
That kind of buy-in from the locker room matters, especially for a coach stepping into a high-pressure role. O’Leary acknowledged the emotional difficulty of leaving his previous position, where he’d built deep bonds with players and colleagues. But the familiarity with the Chargers’ culture helped ease that transition.
“People can say what they want about levels and all that,” he said. “But leaving a place you pour your heart and soul into and you have special relationships with the kids and the staff, it’s hard.
So when I took this job, that was the most challenging part-it was leaving there. But hearing those calls, it was guys I had a similar conversation with a year ago.
There was no hesitation, no second guessing and it made it really special.”
O’Leary now steps into a pivotal role on a team looking to rebound. With Harbaugh at the helm and familiar voices in his corner, he’ll have a chance to put his stamp on a defense with plenty of upside.
New England Patriots: Vrabel Impressed by Kuhr’s Coaching Impact
New Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is already seeing the value in his staff, and one assistant who’s made an early impression is inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr.
“Zak has been fantastic,” Vrabel said. “I think that, much like players when given opportunities, coaches sometimes have the same thing. When they get more opportunity, they take advantage of it, and then turn that into something else.”
Vrabel emphasized Kuhr’s strengths as a communicator and teacher-two traits that are essential for developing talent at the NFL level.
“He’s a good teacher, good communicator,” Vrabel added. “He’s really helped us.”
Kuhr, for his part, takes a pragmatic approach to his role. His game plans are tailored each week, but he always has a backup ready in case things go sideways.
“To me, it’s always game plan specific,” Kuhr said. “But then I always have an ‘oh s-’ plan. Like, everything we planned for isn’t working, or we’re not seeing anything we thought we were going to see, so we can rely on this.”
It’s a mindset that reflects the reality of coaching in the NFL-where adaptability often separates the good from the great. And if Kuhr keeps making the kind of impact Vrabel’s describing, he could be a name to watch as the Patriots build their next chapter.