Updated Feb. 6, 2026, 11:55 a.m. ET
Jim Schwartz won’t be back with the Cleveland Browns after losing out on the team’s head-coaching position.
The defensive coordinator resigned from the team on Thursday, with the team announcing the move a day later.
“We’d like to thank Jim for his contributions to our organization over the last three seasons,” the Browns said in a statement. “Our search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately.”
Schwartz had been a finalist for the top job that went to former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Though owner Jimmy Haslam stated prior to the head-coaching hire that he “absolutely” wanted Schwartz on staff in some form, multiple reports indicated that the coordinator was upset at being passed over and did not wish to remain with the organization despite remaining under contract.
Monken was noncommittal on Schwartz’ future at his introductory news conference, saying it would be “a little inappropriate for me to comment about that at this time.”
He added: “I didn’t take this job because of Jim Schwartz. I have a lot of respect for Jim Schwartz, as I would hope he has for me. But I took it because of the players that are here, the ownership, (general manager) Andrew Berry, and the ability to build this roster from the ground up on the offensive side. … When I was preparing for the Cleveland Browns, I wasn’t trying to chip Jim Schwartz. I was chipping Myles Garrett.”
Schwartz, 59, had been the Browns’ defensive coordinator since 2023. Garrett won two NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards in that span, including this season, when the defensive end set a league record with 23 sacks. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger was also named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the team ranked fourth in yards allowed.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Schwartz was likely to sit out the upcoming season. As of Friday, the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders were the only other teams with defensive coordinator vacancies.