In his first season as Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz has helmed the league's top-ranked defense by yardage allowed entering Week 18. Via Ben Baldwin, the Browns' defense has been historically hard to move the ball against.
As the Browns prepare for the playoffs, the former Detroit Lions head coach is easy to think about as a candidate to get another chance in the upcoming hiring cycle.
Schwartz led the Lions to 10 wins and the playoffs in 2011, the second-most recent time the team has made the playoffs before this year. The rest of his tenure wasn't nearly as good, with an overall record of 29-51 over five seasons in Detroit.
Schwartz of course made his name on the defensive side of the ball, serving as Tennessee Titans' defensive coordinator for seven seasons (2001-2008) prior to the Lions hiring him. Since being dismissed by the Lions he has been defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills (2014) and Philadelphia Eagles (2016-2020), with two years back in Tennessee as a senior defensive assistant before being hired by the Browns.
Jim Schwartz not hiding his desire to get a second chance at being a head coach
Based sheerly on the passage of time since the Lions first hired him, he was 43 then and he's 57 now, Schwartz has more experience than he did during his first run as a head coach and there are surely things he has learned.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, via Scott Petrak of Browns Zone, Schwartz did not dodge a question asking if he wants to be a head coach again.
"I’m really happy here. … I love this organization. I love the city of Cleveland,” Schwartz said. ” … But I’d say this: In any job that you do, you always aspire to the top of the profession. And I’m no different there.”
#Browns DC Jim Schwartz acknowledges that he’d love to be a head coach again even tho he loves it here: pic.twitter.com/DTFoj5yRxw
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 4, 2024
Credit to Schwartz for not dodging or deflecting the question, as many do and would have done in that situation, and giving a frank, non-coach speak answer about wanting another shot to be a head coach. Whether he gets the opportunity remains to be seen, but the former Lions' head coach has done plenty enough this year to get interviews when the Browns' season is done.