As the Cleveland Browns begin their head coaching search, defensive minded options like Jim Schwartz should be mentioned
Everyone who has met former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski likes him. He is personable and well-liked. Stefanski is respected in NFL circles, and it should not take him long to find a coordinator job with another club.
Or, he just might slide into another head coaching position. Numerous media outlets have projected that between four and six head coaches will lose their positions today on “Black Monday.”
Before the end of this season, the New York Football Giants and Tennessee Titans fired their head man, and the Atlanta Falcons did not wait until Black Monday to ax head coach Raheem Morris hours after they won their final game 19-17 over the New Orleans Saints. Today, the Arizona Cardinals let go of head coach Jonathan Gannon, and the Las Vegas Raiders did not wait for head coach Pete Carroll to turn the franchise around.
And the decision to let Stefanski walk probably wasn’t an easy one for owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. After all, Stefanski was named NFL Coach of the Year twice. And he got the Browns into the playoffs in 2020 after a 17-year drought.
However, the NFL is a results league, and losing 14 games in 2024 and 12 this year were just too much to ignore. Plus, Stefanski was supposed to be an offensive coach and a quarterback whisperer. With Cleveland, these areas were some of the worst situations on the entire roster.
The quarterback situation just never gets solved. It just seems to always be the next new guy.
Yes, the offensive line has been a mess. We all know the offense will only go as far as the offensive line will take them. But nobody can predict – or halt – injuries, and it has been an ongoing battle all season, just like last year. Cleveland has used seven different offensive line groupings so far this year.
And now, with the firing of Stefanski, the Browns must find a new head coach. Keep in mind, when Stefanski was released, this means his entire coaching staff could be unemployed. The new coach can retain any of the former coaches, but usually, he has his own guys to bring in that he is used to working with. Plus, any of these former Browns assistant coaches will be working to gain interviews with other clubs to ensure they have employment in 2026.
The defense has become the one area that has the fewest issues. This is due to DC Jim Schwartz and his schemes. Perhaps the new guy should retain the importance of the defense, and perhaps the Haslams will pick a defensive-minded coach to run this ballclub. Then simply hire a stud offensive coordinator to run that side of the ball.
Some defensive coaches for the Browns to keep in mind in their head coaching search:
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Jim Schwartz
Age: 59
DC Cleveland Browns
Obviously, this would be the easy move, and really, it makes the most sense. Schwartz has taken this defense to new heights, and GM Andrew Berry has been feeding him a steady diet of capable defenders, like getting two defensive players with their first two picks in this year’s NFL draft. Those dividends are paying off already with DT Mason Graham and LB Carson Schwesinger, who have both been named to the ESPN NFL All-Rookie Team.
Schwartz has transformed every defense everywhere he has been employed. It is quite possible that if the Browns hired another guy to be the head coach, they would retain Schwartz, but a lot of coaches like to bring in their own guys. In 2023, Schwartz was named NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.
From 2009-2013, Schwartz was head coach of the Detroit Lions. They went to the playoffs a single season after going 10-6-0.
Where does the Browns defense sit this year?
- Passing: #3
- Rushing: #16
- NFL ranking overall: #4
His defenses are known for being an aggressive, attacking style that places pressure on the quarterback. Schwartz will attack gaps, and his cornerbacks use man coverage, which frees up the linebackers to make tackles in the run game and provide coverage to tight ends and running backs. In 2023, the Browns’ defense was ranked #1 under Schwartz.
Schwartz is the father of twins, along with a younger daughter. His wife is Kathy.
Robert Saleh
Age 46
DC San Francisco 49ers
Like Schwartz, Saleh has been an NFL head coach before, although it was abbreviated with the New York Jets. He transformed their defense into a league power while he was there.
Saleh has a reputation for being one of the league’s top defensive minds and was welcomed back to San Fran after being ousted by the Jets. His defense is known as being aggressive working out of the 4-3 base. Like Schwartz, he relies on a strong pass rush from his defensive line and emphasizes disguising coverages.
He uses heavy Cover 3 zone with man principles. He especially likes three deep defenders with four underneath. All of his defensive rosters feature athletic defensive linemen and defensive backs that are versatile, who can play box, man, zone, or switch to linebacker if needed. Saleh also looks for agile linebackers with speed.
Where does the 49ers defense sit this year?
- Passing #23
- Rushing: #11
- NFL ranking overall: #20
In a nutshell, Saleh’s defense features a front four that is designed to attack the quarterback, defenders who will create turnovers and win critical downs, plus a mixture of aggressive pressure and disciplined zone coverage.
Saleh and his wife, Sanaa, have seven children.
Aden Durde
Age 46
DC Seattle Seahawks
This Seahawks defense is a scary group.
Durde came to the NFL via the International Player Pathway program, as the British linebacker played in NFL Europe and ended up as the head of football development at NFLUK from 2015 to 2018. Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn hired him as their new defensive quality control coach, which made him the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL history.
He then had a coaching stint with the Dallas Cowboys before going to Seattle in 2024, where his defense in his first year ranked #14.
Where does the Seahawks defense sit this year?
- Passing: #12
- Rushing: #3
- NFL ranking overall: #6
Durde is a rising head coaching candidate whose defense emphasizes a strong defensive line that will collapse the pocket, a unit focused on consistent effort, stopping the run, and the use of versatile defensive backs.
If the Browns have a serious interest in Durde, they could face challenges balancing Seattle’s postseason preparation with his managing outside interest in key staff members.
Durde and his wife, Kate, have two sons.
Category: General Sports
