Jim Schwartz walked away after feeling betrayed, Todd Monken lost built-in credibility with players, and the Browns failed to keep the architect of their fourth-ranked defense.
In the era where every sports transaction counts a winner and loser, this one bucks the trend.New Browns coach Todd Monken wanted an experienced coach to run his defense; the Browns reportedly wanted to pair Schwartz with a smart offensive hire; Schwartz wanted to stay in Cleveland.
Now Monken needs a new coordinator late in the coaching cycle. The Browns failed to retain their best assistant. Schwartz needs a new job, and because he’s still under contract in Cleveland, he needs the Browns’ approval to interview.Browns saw this coming, right? General manager Andrew Berry and co-owner Jimmy Haslam had to know this was possible. They had to know that a prideful, passionate coach might react poorly to being passed over, and that Haslam’s money might not solve this problem. They must’ve had an inkling that Schwartz would stay on as assistant, or they must’ve had a contingency plan in case he didn’t.As David Njoku bids farewell, Browns turn the page to a new eraAt this point, it doesn’t matter whether the Browns misled Schwartz during the interview process or whether he interpreted it that way. His perception became his reality. Schwartz saw betrayal in Monken’s hire. And he reportedlyCleveland has logged several interview requests for Schwartz’s replacement, but only three candidates come with NFL playcalling experience. Browns linebackers coach Jason Tarver called the Raiders defense from 2012-2014. Texans defensive pass game coordinator Cory Undlin, who worked under Schwartz in Philadelphia from 2016-2019, called the Lions’ defense in 2020. And Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen called plays during four games last year. The Browns may find a strong coordinator from that bunch, but one week after the Monken hire, their Schwartzian exit strategy remains blurry. If they intended to pair Schwartz with Monken, they failed. If they’re looking for a ready-made replacement, they’ll be looking for a while. And if this search fails to produce a suitable candidate, then I’ll defer to the Dawg Pound again.Attention NFL front offices, the next star defensive assistant has hit the market. He is 59 years old and runs an increasingly rare scheme. Plus, he left his last job, which featured the league’s best defender, an All-Pro cornerback and the league’s best defensive rookie, in a huff because the team offered him a raise instead of promoting him.I understand if the 59-year-old Schwartz feels betrayed after the Browns bypassed him for, potentially, his last good chance to become a head coach. And I wouldn’t typically question anyone for wanting to leave a franchise nicknamed “The Factory of Sadness.” But in this case with these players, I wonder if Schwartz just short-changed his own resume. Two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett is still here. All-Pro cornerback Denzel Ward will play alongside him again. Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger should take a step forward during his second season, too.Only one other team interviewed Schwartz for their head coach vacancy this cycle. Only more dominant defenses can strengthen his coaching resume. And only the Browns have spent three seasons assembling a roster in Schwartz’s image.Perhaps Schwartz can’t stand to serve the Browns again after revamping their defense, interviewing twice for Monken’s job, then being passed over. Or perhaps Schwartz feels stuck in assistant coach purgatory. If he’s going to remain a coordinator, the thinking goes, he’d rather work where he can win more If so, he leaves with his pride intact and his services wanted elsewhere. But he also does so while knowing that his next job won’t fit him like this one.Achieve your lifelong dream. Move your family out of state to do so. Hire a slew of offensive staff members. And while you’re at it, Todd Monken, could you also replace a beloved defensive assistant? Monken has already been busy since the Browns hired him a couple weeks back, but his next move might be the most important. Team leaders like Ward, Garrett and Grant Delpit loved playing for Schwartz, which means his replacement will have plenty to prove to those players. The Browns don’t plan on changing their defensive system, and they have already interviewed two assistants – Banda and Tarver – who players know well. But without Schwartz, Monken loses the built-in credibility Schwartz provided with players and fans. And if the Browns’ defense, which ranked fourth in EPA and success rate last season, starts to slip next year, it will reflect poorly upon Monken’s staff. When the new coach said last week that he didn’t take this job because of Schwartz, he was speaking in semantics. No, he didn’t sign a contract to work with a specific defensive coordinator. But he did crave Cleveland’s strong, existing defensive culture. Winning games depends on it, and losing Schwartz weakens it. Losing Schwartz wasn’t Monken’s fault. But the exit has become his problem. Consider it another reminder that the Browns-Schwartz divorce is not your typical modern transaction.Jimmy Watkins is a columnist for Cleveland.com. He provides unique perspectives and intricate reporting on our local teams and their rivals. He joined us in November 2022 as the rivalry beat writer, and his...
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