The Cleveland Browns‘ coaching search this offseason has seen three top targets withdraw from consideration and a fourth candidate decline to be interviewed by the franchise. Now, as the club moves closer to making a head-coaching hire, a new report details what might be one of the issues in Cleveland.
According to Jared Mueller of SB Nation’s Dawgs by Nature, team owner Jimmy Haslam is “pretty hell bent” on retaining Jim Schwartz as the Browns defensive coordinator in 2026. While he’s well-regarded as a defensive play-caller, the reported issue is Cleveland’s owner trying to force moves on a potential head-coaching hire.
Related: Former NFL Coach Gaining Momentum in Cleveland Browns Coaching Search
Mueller notes that Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who seemed to be a finalist entering the weekend, had another name in mind to be the defensive coordinator on his staff. On Monday, Udinski informed the Browns that he withdrew his name from consideration and signed a new deal with Jacksonville. However, he is still keeping himself in the mix to become the Buffalo Bills’ head coach.
Meanwhile, per Mueller, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase has another name he has been considering for his potential staff to serve as his defensive play-caller. However, through Haslam, the Browns organization has seemingly implied that Schwartz must be kept around.
Related: Third Candidate Pulls Out of Cleveland Coaching Head Coach Search
It is just another issue for a head-coaching vacancy that many around the league viewed as one of the worst in the league. To that point, after being fired by Cleveland, head coach Kevin Stefanski was immediately pursued by several clubs and was believed to have head-coaching offers from at least two before agreeing to take over the Atlanta Falcons.
Haslam publicly took accountability for the Deshaun Watson trade, which seemingly should have served as a lesson in what happens when he oversteps and tries to force a move. It seems that did not happen, and it could end up being the reason that Schwartz is promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach.
