Browns begin defensive coordinator search by interviewing Jim Schwartz – Information-Herald
Jim Schwartz walks across the field before a 2020 Eagles Giants game in Philadelphia. (Derik Hamilton – The Associated Press)
The Browns began interviewing potential backup players for fired defensive coordinator Joe Woods on Jan. 11, and for the most part their schedule won’t conflict with teams preparing for the playoffs.
Jim Schwartz, who has held the senior defensive assistant title with the Tennessee Titans for the past two years, was interviewed by Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 11. The Browns announced that Schwartz would be interviewing early.
Brian Flores, a Steelers senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, is expected to take his turn on Jan. 12. Jerod Mayo, the New England Patriots’ inside linebackers coach, is also on the Browns’ radar to replace Woods.
The Titans, Steelers, and Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs during the final weekend of the Jan. 7-8 regular season.
Sean Desai, assistant head coach of the Seahawks, is the only known candidate for defensive coordinator on the staff of a team that has qualified for the playoffs. The Seahawks, an NFC wildcard team, visit the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
“We’re going to look at all these candidates very closely, and schematically they look at our list and they look at our tape and we can start talking about the ball and what we could do differently,” Stefanski said on March 9 January in a wrap-up press conference with General Manager Andrew Berry. “These are all discussions to ensure that our staff then fit into the vision of what we want to do.
“I believe in our player corps. Especially on the defensive side of the ball we have a lot of people who can influence the game, can influence the passer, are good at the back end and all those things. We definitely look forward to finding the right person.”
Schwartz, 56, was a scout for the Browns from 1993 to 1995 when Bill Belichcik was the Browns head coach. He began coaching in 1996 as an outside linebackers coach with the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL.
Schwartz was the Titans’ defensive coordinator from 2001 to 2008. Success in that role opened the door for him to become the head coach of the Detroit Lions. He was 29-51 and was released after five seasons. He was the Bills’ defensive coordinator in 2014 and had the same role with the Eagles from 2016-2020 after retiring from coaching in 2015.
The 2017 Eagles beat the Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII, with Schwartz as the defensive coordinator. The 2017 Eagles allowed 295 points. They held opponents to 17 or fewer points seven times, caught 19 passes, recovered 12 fumbles, and kept opponents in third place with a conversion rate of 32.2.
Flores also has experience as a head coach. In this respect he was more successful than Schwartz. At 41, he might be able to engage with players better. Flores served as the Dolphins’ head coach from 2019-21 24-25.
