The Detroit Lions have yet to make a decision on the future of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Chances are, he'll remain at the position. But if head coach Dan Campbell is committed to building a Super Bowl-winning staff, then the perfect DC has fallen into his lap -- and it's definitely a callback.
The Cleveland Browns' firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski has already created buzz about him as a potential offensive coordinator candidate for the Lions, but his firing has also led to one of the top DCs in the league becoming a free agent: Jim Schwartz.
Yes, that Jim Schwartz. The same Jim Schwartz who was hired as the Lions' head coach in 2009 after an 0-16 season. The same Jim Schwartz who led the Lions to the playoffs in 2011. The same Jim Schwartz who made that questionable challenge call on Thanksgiving. The same Jim Schwartz who was fired after the 2013 season. The same Jim Schwartz who was carried off the field in celebration after his Buffalo Bills defense shut down the Lions in 2014.
That Jim Schwartz.
Schwartz has become one of the league's best DCs
Whatever reputation Schwartz lost after his tenure with the Lions has ended; he's built back up stronger than ever. That season with the Bills may have been his only one there, but his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles afterward made him a champion. Schwartz helped rebuild the Eagles' defense en route to a Super Bowl LII victory.
Schwartz resigned from his position with the Eagles in 2021 due to health issues. Later that year, Schwartz took on a smaller role as a senior defensive assistant with the Tennessee Titans, where he was the DC before being hired by the Lions. Those 2021 Titans finished 12-5, reaching the divisional round of the playoffs.
READ MORE: 5 options to replace Kelvin Sheppard as Lions' DC if Dan Campbell pulls the plug
Schwartz returned to the DC position with Stefanski's Browns in 2023, where he's led one of the best defensive units in the league. Yes, his stint does coincide with the prime of new single-season sack king Myles Garrett, but the Browns' defense is more than just one man, however great he is.
Despite a 5-12 record this season, the Browns finished fourth in yards allowed per game (283.6) and third in passing yards allowed per game (167.2). That would be a huge upgrade from the Lions in yards (331.9) and passing yards (217.4), and it gets to the heart of the Lions' late-season issues. They also finished third in sacks per game (53.0), just ahead of the Lions (49.0). Schwartz's Browns finished with two fewer points allowed per game (22.3) compared to the Lions (24.3), with roughly the same number of takeaways (18 to the Lions' 19).
The Browns' defense was often put in difficult situations thanks to their offense, which was among the worst in the league in yards gained per game (262.1), points scored per game (16.4), and giveaways (25). Imagine how much better the Browns and their defense could've been if they were complemented by a high-powered offense like, say, the Lions?
Would Schwartz be willing to return to Detroit?
The big question is: Is Schwartz returning to Detroit even a possibility? So long as Campbell is keeping Sheppard, the answer is likely no, unless Schwartz is willing to join as a senior defensive assistant. Schwartz will also be a hot commodity across the league with his Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward already endorsing him to replace Stefanski as the Browns' head coach. Schwartz could always go where Stefanski ends up, Detroit or elsewhere, or he could simply retire.
How does Schwartz even feel about the Lions right now? In the lead-up to Schwartz's Browns going up against the Lions in Week 4, Schwartz had kind words to say about his time in Detroit, saying, "I really enjoyed my time there. My family did. I loved the players, love the city, really love the organization." Schwartz added that he was "very grateful" for his time in Detroit and that he still has "a lot of friends" there.
Schwartz was also asked about the job Campbell was doing in Detroit, and Schwartz offered nothing but praise, saying, "I admire what Dan's done with the team. They're in his image. They play tough. They play physical. It'll be fun to go against them."
READ MORE: Here's where the Lions will be picking in the 2026 NFL Draft
Whether or not those kind words translate to a Detroit return remains to be seen, and there's always a chance Schwartz still harbors bitterness toward the organization for how his tenure with the Lions ended. If Campbell is looking for a championship-level move and is willing to be aggressive and bold in the process, then Schwartz needs to be contacted this offseason.
For a franchise that has revelled in storybook redemption stories, there would be none bigger than bringing back a former head coach with a .363 win percentage and giving him the keys to the defense in the midst of a Super Bowl window. He's proven to be a brilliant defensive mind with decades of experience. Whether it's as a DC or in another capacity, it's time to bring Schwartz home and give him that redemption in Detroit.