To say Jim Schwartz is upset at the Cleveland Browns might be an understatement.
Following weeks of discussion about who the next head coach of the Browns would be, Schwartz, the team’s defensive coordinator, began to believe his promotion was right around the corner.
The team was adamant that if they chose another person to take over the head coach role, Schwartz could not be touched. He helped build one of the best defenses in the league, and even if the incoming team lead had other ideas, the Browns believed that he was integral to their future.
While this led some top candidates to drop out of contention, it only built momentum behind Schwartz’s ascent to the head coach position. Every day, there was more news about how much the Browns believed in him and saw him as not only a cog in the machine but the entire engine of Cleveland’s football roster.
Then, on Wednesday, all that excitement collapsed as the team announced that Todd Monken would be the next head coach of the Browns.
The former offensive coordinator of an NFC North rival, Baltimore, Monken was picked over Schwartz’s internal promotion. And while the Browns would love to keep their defensive architect, it doesn’t seem the feeling is mutual.
Multiple reports have broken out that the relationship between the Browns and Schwartz has been burned to a crisp, with the coach now looking elsewhere for jobs in 2026.
If Schwartz leaves, he would be a massive upgrade at DC for multiple contending teams in the league. Although a majority of teams are going offensive with their head coach roles, Schwartz’s defensive mind is coveted and would be welcomed at some of the league’s top teams.
We will continue to monitor the Schwartz story as it develops in Cleveland and beyond as he possibly seeks a new team to call home for next season.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Jim Schwartz Furious After Browns Pass Him Over for Head Coach