According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Jim Schwartz was visibly upset after learning the Cleveland Browns passed him over for the head coaching job in favor of Todd Monken. Sources say Schwartz said his goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he is not planning to return, even though he remains under contract as Cleveland’s defensive coordinator.
That’s… awkward.
Schwartz, 59, has been one of the most respected defensive minds in football for decades, and the Browns’ decision to go in a different direction clearly hit hard. The former Detroit Lions head coach believed he had a real shot at the top job, especially after leading one of the NFL’s best defenses and earning AP Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2023.
Instead, Cleveland pivoted to Monken — and Schwartz didn’t take it quietly.
A Familiar Name in Detroit
For Lions fans, this story hits close to home. Schwartz was Detroit’s head coach from 2009–2013, a stretch that included:
- Ending the franchise’s historic losing culture
- The famous 10-6 season in 2011
- The first playoff appearance since 1999
- Establishing the “grit” defensive identity that later regimes built upon
While his tenure in Detroit had its ups and downs, Schwartz is still remembered for helping pull the Lions out of the NFL basement and restoring physical, aggressive football to the city.
That fiery personality? Yeah… it hasn’t changed.
Why the Browns’ Decision Stings
From Schwartz’s perspective, the timing couldn’t be worse:
- He rebuilt Cleveland’s defense into a top-tier unit
- He has prior head coaching experience
- He’s widely respected across the league
- He already had organizational familiarity
And yet, the Browns went offense-first and hired Monken.
Sources now say Cleveland wants Schwartz back as DC, but after the emotional reaction and internal goodbyes, his future is very much up in the air.
In other words: this could get messy.
Detroit Angle: A Reminder of Who Schwartz Is
Lions fans know this movie well.
Schwartz is intense. Competitive. Proud. And when he feels disrespected, he doesn’t exactly hide it. His reaction in Cleveland mirrors the same fire that once defined Detroit’s sideline during the early Matthew Stafford era.
Whether he stays in Cleveland or becomes a surprise candidate elsewhere, one thing is clear:
Jim Schwartz does not like being told “no.”
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