After hiring former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their new head coach, the Cleveland Browns are now facing a massive Jim Schwartz problem. The Browns’ defensive coordinator was one of the franchise’s top head coaching candidates, but since the Cleveland front office decided to pivot in a different direction by bringing in Monken, Schwartz is ready to find a new team in the NFL.

“After the Browns informed DC, Jim Schwartz, this morning they were passing him over to hire Todd Monken as head coach, Schwartz was visibly upset, said goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he’s not coming back, sources tell The Insiders,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on X. “Schwartz is under contract, and Cleveland wants to retain him. But his future is now unclear.”

Jim Schwartz’s displeasure with Todd Monken’s signing comes up as he dearly wanted the head coaching job in Cleveland, as revealed by Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

“Here’s one way that that could really happen, and that is if he just says, ‘If I’m not your head coach, I’m out of here.’ And if he says that, that could change the game,” Mary Kay Cabot explained on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast. “I could see them absolutely not wanting that to happen.”

Schwartz was initially hired as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2023 after spending the previous two seasons as a defensive assistant with the Tennessee Titans. Under Schwartz, Cleveland ranks first in total yards per game, opponent first downs allowed per game, third down percentage, fourth down percentage, total passing yards per game, first downs per pass attempt, and most team tackles for a loss. The Browns also rank third in team sacks and are tied for second with eight defensive touchdowns.

But with their decision to hire Monken as the head coach, the Browns could be without the leader of their successful defense, which has been the silver lining in recent years of mediocrity for the franchise. Especially with an NFC powerhouse emerging as the favorite to sign Schwartz.

Where could Jim Schwartz end up next after Cleveland?

With his exit from the Cleveland Browns most likely confirmed, Jim Schwartz has emerged as the favorite to join the San Francisco 49ers. After suffering a 41-6 loss against the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers lost their defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, as he took over the head coaching job with the Tennessee Titans.

Hence, to replace Saleh, San Francisco has expressed interest in bringing in Jim Schwartz, as per Tom Pelissero.

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“The 49ers, among others, would likely have interest in Jim Schwartz if and when he becomes available. Schwartz was in the Browns facility the past couple days in anticipation of being named head coach. But he’d already told people that if he were passed over, he wasn’t staying,” Tom Pelissero wrote on X.

Now, only time will tell whether the Browns can retain Schwartz despite not naming him as the head coach, or instead the star defensive coordinator will find his way into a contender like the San Francisco 49ers’ coaching staff.