Eagles

The Browns Are Interviewing Jim Schwartz Today

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jan 8th, 2020 · 10:08 AM EST

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This was reported a few days ago and made official today by the Browns:

Our head coach interviews continue today with Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz

📰 » https://t.co/gh0uA0s0Vn pic.twitter.com/rL9lfPZGhd

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 8, 2020

The blurb on the Browns website is pretty straightforward, but figured I’d share this segment about the other coaches they’re taking a look at:

Schwartz, who broke into the NFL with the Browns back in 1993, is the sixth candidate to interview. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman interviewed Thursday, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy interviewed Friday, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh interviewed Saturday and Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll interviewed Monday.

Ian Rapoport also reports that the Browns will talk to Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

McCarthy went to Dallas, so he’s now off the board. Greg Roman is one of the hot names out there following his success in Baltimore this year. Bieniemy comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree and was linked to other job openings, which he did not get. Saleh had a great year in San Fran and Daboll’s stock dropped after that second half the Bills put up last week.

Where does Schwartz fall in the mix? His name is not nearly as intriguing as Roman or some of those other coordinators, at least when you take the temperature of various articles and opinions shared by NFL people on social media. Not sure Schwartz’s stock was ever going to be any higher than it was after 2017 or 2018, and his five-year Lions tenure was spotty, with just one playoff appearance following one winning season.

But it’s a good fit for him, I think. There’s defensive talent on that Browns squad, guys like Myles Garrett and Sheldon Richardson and Denzel Ward. They have Pro Bowlers at receiver and running back. Schwartz has the experience Freddie Kitchens did not have.

Schwartz also has reportedly always had a lot of control of his defensive personnel in Philadelphia. He came in at the same as Doug Pederson and was not necessarily a “Doug guy” in terms of assistant hires. That worked out just fine en route to a Super Bowl win, but you do wonder if Schwartz is ready to move on and take another crack at a head coaching gig. It would be equally interesting to see who Doug brings in if Schwartz leaves, and how much control he and Howie Roseman take on the defensive side of the ball, vs. what’s ceded to the new coordinator.

Gut feeling, however, the Browns hire somebody else.