Jim Schwartz has resigned as Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator after sending the team a letter of resignation Friday morning, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schwartz, who was passed over for the Browns head coaching job in favor of Todd Monken, is now likely to sit out the 2026 season. He is under contract with the Browns, who could block any overtures from another team seeking a defensive coordinator.
The 59-year-old Schwartz was one of the coaching finalists to replace Kevin Stefanski. Cleveland, though, ultimately hired Monken, who served as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. It marked the second time that Schwartz had been passed over for the Browns’ head coaching job; he also came up short in the 2020 cycle that ended with Cleveland hiring Stefanski.
Schwartz had led one of the best defenses in the NFL in his three years on the job. Since 2023, Cleveland has allowed the fewest yards in the NFL, and Myles Garrett has been named Defensive Player of the Year twice, taking home the honor Thursday night after breaking the league’s single-season sack record this season.
«I love Jim, and I love playing for him,» Garrett previously said.
As coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009 to 2013, Schwartz went 29-51. He had since served on the staffs of the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans and Browns.
Information from ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi was used in this report.
