The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski over three weeks ago. It took the two-time NFL Coach of the Year just 12 days to find a new job as the Atlanta Falcons‘ head coach.
Meanwhile, the Browns took 25 days to identify and interview candidates before announcing that they’ve hired former Baltimore Ravens head coach Todd Monken. It ended a long search and surely brought relief to several members of Cleveland’s front office. Yet, not everyone in Cleveland was happy with the move.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Browns defensive coordinator/head coaching candidate Jim Schwartz was “visibly upset” upon learning the news that Monken would be taking over. Schwartz had reportedly been telling other Browns coaches that he wouldn’t be returning to Cleveland for anything less than being their head coach.
Now, Schwartz is expected to find a job elsewhere. The Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, and the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers are three playoff-contending teams that are still hunting for a defensive coordinator. In other words, it’s possible Schwartz will look to get his revenge, possibly by even staying in the AFC North. The San Francisco 49ers are another team coming off a playoff appearance that now needs a new defensive leader after Robert Saleh landed a head coaching job again.
Yet, Schqartz will likely need some time to recalibrate before making his next decision. Plus, those respective teams would have to schedule an interview with the former Detroit Lions head coach first, but that could happen in the very near future.
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