Headlines

Jim Schwartz

Jim Schwartz Addresses Browns Departure

By | at June 4, 2026 9:04 am

Shortly after the Browns fired Kevin Stefanski, it became clear Jim Schwartz was interested in replacing him as head coach. The veteran defensive coordinator was among the candidates to conduct a second interview with Cleveland.

Schwartz seemed to be in the lead regarding the Browns’ HC search at points during the process, and the team’s preference was to keep him in the organization in one capacity or another. In the end, though, Todd Monken wound up being hired as the new head coach. The former Ravens OC’s arrival led to Schwartz eyeing a departure, and he resigned in early February.

“Anybody that’s in any business, you get passed over for promotion when you’ve done a really, really good job in your job, and you think you were in line for that promotion, it’s time to go,” Schwartz said when reflecting on his decision during an appearance on the “Ryan Ripken Show” (h/t Matt Moret of The Athletic). “I mean, a forced marriage isn’t going to work in the NFL… And I didn’t feel like I could do my job after getting passed over for the head coaching job.”

Upon arrival in Cleveland, Monken was noncommittal on the topic of retaining Schwartz. The veteran defensive mind had been in place with the Browns since 2023. Cleveland posted a top-four finish in points allowed twice in that span, but that was not enough for Schwartz to get the nod for what would have been a second NFL head coaching opportunity. The 60-year-old is set to spend 2026 out of coaching before a potential return elsewhere next season.

Schwartz added it “wouldn’t have been good” for himself or Monken to have him remain in place for the coming campaign. The possibility of split loyalties to the head coach and defensive coordinator among players was mentioned by Schwartz as something worth avoiding when speaking about his decision. His presence (and now absence) certainty had an impact, as Schwartz’s resignation was a factor in Myles Garrett‘s decision to waive his no-trade clause and facilitate his recent move to the Rams.

Monken wound up hiring former Falcons defensive pass-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg for the DC position. 2026 will mark his first stint as a coordinator at the college or NFL levels, and he will be tasked with maintaining a high level of play leading a defense which no longer has Garrett in the fold. When it comes to the 2027 hiring cycle, meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how strong Schwartz’s market winds up being.

17 comments Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett Fallout: Schwartz, Eagles, Quotes

By | at June 1, 2026 6:51 pm

Following this afternoon’s stunning Myles Garrett trade, we’re learning new details about what ultimately led to the Browns deal with the Rams. Unlike last year, Garrett did not request a trade, per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.

[RELATED: Browns Trade Myles Garrett To Rams]

However, the reporter notes that “an air of uncertainty lingered over the relationship” between the player and the Browns, and Garrett remained open to “new scenery.” The player continued to make it clear that his commitment to the organization was contingent on them being competitive.

That obviously didn’t come to fruition in 2025, as the Browns finished with only five victories. However, Garrett did have a prolific season that saw him break the NFL sack record. The pass rusher also earned his second Defensive Player of the Year award, with both of his accolades coming while playing in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz‘s system. So, it’s not a surprise that the Browns’ decision to pass over Schwartz for their head coaching gig “didn’t help matters” when it came to Garrett sticking in Cleveland, per Oyefusi.

We heard earlier that the Rams were persistent in their pursuit of the defender, but the Browns did make their star edge rusher available to other potential suitors. However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that the list of landing spots ultimately proved to be limited since Cleveland was focused on acquiring a “young, ascending pass rusher” in exchange for Garrett. The team specifically had eyes on Jared Verse, so the Rams were seemingly in the driver seat throughout the unofficial sweepstakes.

One team that also expressed interest in acquiring Garrett was the Eagles, although NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Ryan Fowler describes their pursuit as more “exploratory.” Fowler believes Philly would have had to surrender someone like Nolan Smith or Jalyx Hunt plus a combination of picks to pull off the blockbuster trade, and the Eagles front office determined that asking price was the “tipping point.” Jalen Carter was also mentioned as a potential trade target of the Browns, but Fowler says there was “zero potential” of that swap coming to fruition.

The Browns continually stated that they wanted Garrett to play his entire career in Cleveland, and their four-year, $160MM reinforced that point. Browns GM Andrew Berry provided some insight into what changed the front office’s mind about dealing their star player.

“We have long taken the stance that our goal was for Myles Garrett to be a one-helmet player for his entire career,” Berry said (via Bleacher Report’s James Palmer). “After rewriting the record books and representing our organization with excellence, we were sincere in that desire as we entered this offseason and did not envision a world where Myles was not a Cleveland Brown.

Read more

10 comments Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams Philadelphia Eagles

2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 15, 2026 10:15 pm

The 2026 head coaching carousel has now seen 10 jobs open since the start of the offseason, as the Bills have fired Sean McDermott. HC firings generally lead to coordinator changes, and several other teams have proceeded with OC or DC moves to start their offseasons. Here are the current OC and DC searches transpiring. As the remaining HC searches conclude, more coordinator searches will be added to this list.

Updated 2-23-26 (10:40pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Drew Petzing)

  • Nathaniel Hackett, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Hired

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Zac Robinson)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Todd Monken)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Joe Brady)

  • Pete Carmichael Jr., senior offensive assistant (Broncos): Hire expected

Chicago Bears (Out: Declan Doyle)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Tommy Rees)

  • Travis Switzer, run-game coordinator (Ravens): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Joe Lombardi)

  • Ronald Curry, quarterbacks coach (Bills): Interviewed
  • Brian Johnson, pass-game coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed
  • Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Promoted

Detroit Lions (Out: John Morton)

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)

  • Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Bears): Rehired

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Greg Olson)

  • Andrew Janocko, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Hired
  • Frisman Jackson, wide receivers coach (Seahawks): To interview

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Greg Roman)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Mike LaFleur)

  • Dave Ragone, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Title enhanced
  • Nate Scheelhaase, pass-game coordinator (Rams): Promoted

Miami Dolphins (Out: Frank Smith)

New York Giants (Out: Mike Kafka)

New York Jets (Out: Tanner Engstrand)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kevin Patullo)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Arthur Smith)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Klint Kubiak)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Josh Grizzard)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Nick Holz)

Washington Commanders (Out: Kliff Kingsbury)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Zach Orr)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Bobby Babich)

  • Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired

Cleveland Browns (Out: Jim Schwartz)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Matt Eberflus)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Jeff Hafley)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Patrick Graham)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Jesse Minter)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Anthony Weaver)

  • Sean Duggan, former linebackers coach (Packers): Hired
  • Clint Hurtt, defensive line coach (Eagles): Interviewed

New England Patriots (Out: Terrell Williams)

New York Giants (Out: Shane Bowen)

New York Jets (Out: Steve Wilks)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Teryl Austin)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Robert Saleh)

  • Gus Bradley, assistant head coach (49ers): Interviewed
  • Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Hired
  • Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Rumored candidate
  • Joe Woods, defensive backs coach (Raiders): Interviewed

Tennessee Titans (Out: Dennard Wilson)

Washington Commanders (Out: Joe Whitt)

4 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Patriots To Move DC Terrell Williams To New Role, Likely To Promote Zak Kuhr

By | at February 14, 2026 8:30 pm

FEBRUARY 14: ESPN’s Mike Reiss also points to Kuhr as a “leading candidate” for the defensive coordinator gig. As Vrabel noted earlier this week, though, there are still a number of roles which are undecided on his staff at this point. Filling the DC vacancy will obviously be a priority over the coming days.

FEBRUARY 12: Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams will be moving to a “high-ranking role” on Mike Vrabel‘s staff, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Williams, 51, was one of Vrabel’s first hires when he became the Patriots’ head coach last offseason. Williams stepped away from the team during spring practices due to a health scare and was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly before the regular season. He continued to work with the team in New England during the season as he underwent treatment, but he did not travel with the team to away games. Williams was announced to be cancer-free before the Super Bowl and traveled with the team to San Francisco.

Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr took over defensive play-calling and led the unit to a top-10 finish. The Patriots defense also fueled their run to the Super Bowl by allowing just 26 points and forcing eight turnovers in their three AFC playoff games.

After those results in his first season as a position coach in the NFL, Kuhr is a virtual lock to take over the defensive coordinator job in New England. The Patriots still must comply with Rooney Rule requirements to interview two minority candidates for the position, but the team almost certainly made this move to promote Kuhr.

If he remained the linebackers coach, he would be a risk to be poached by another team, potentially this offseason with the Cardinals and Raiders still looking for defensive coordinators. New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak could have a particular appreciation for Kuhr’s skills after extensively studying his defense in the lead up to Super Bowl LX. Even if Kuhr didn’t move to Arizona or Las Vegas this year, he would be a near-certainty to get a defensive coordinator job next offseason.

Kuhr is not the only candidate for the Patriots’ DC job. In addition to the two minority candidates the team will interview, Shane Bowen and Jim Schwartz could be considered for the job, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. Bowen, who was last the Giants’ DC, held the same job in Tennessee during Vrabel’s last three years with the Titans. Schwartz was a senior defensive assistant on that staff for two of those seasons. His availability is less clear with the Browns still holding his contract rights for the 2026 season.

Williams’ new role on Vrabel’s staff has yet to be announced, but the decision does not come as a major surprise. Vrabel hinted at the potential for such a move after the Super Bowl with Kuhr having thoroughly proved himself as a defensive play-caller. Given his history as a defensive line coach, an assistant head coach/run game coordinator title would make sense for Williams moving forward.

7 comments New England Patriots

Raiders Officially Name Klint Kubiak Head Coach

By | at February 9, 2026 11:14 pm

The Raiders have made it official. The team announced this evening that they’ve named Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their new head coach.

Kubiak is now the 25th head coach in franchise history, and he’s the sixth since the team moved to Las Vegas. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kubiak will receive a five-year contract from the Raiders.

Of course, this move doesn’t come as any surprise. The franchise seemed to be leaning towards Kubiak last week, and the 38-year-old was reportedly set to negotiate a deal with the organization. Then, Kubiak all but confirmed the news last night following the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win when he revealed that he’d indeed be taking his talents from Seattle to Las Vegas.

The son of Gary Kubiak, Klint has bounced around the NFL during his coaching career, including stops with the Vikings, Saints, and Seahawks as the offensive coordinator. It was that latter stop that made him seem destined to take the next step of his career, as Kubiak was the most popular name during this year’s hiring cycle. The 38-year-old ultimately interviewed for seven of the 10 HC vacancies, and he landed one of those opportunities in Las Vegas.

After helping guide Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense to a surprising top-10 showing this past season, Kubiak will now be tasked with turning around a franchise that’s only made the postseason twice in the past 23 years. Besides landing on their new head coach, the Raiders are also anticipated to add a new franchise QB this offseason, as the team is expected to select reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first-overall pick.

Before Kubiak can focus on the on-field product, he’ll have to quickly build out his staff. Considering his inexperience as a head coach, Jason La Canfora of Sportsboom.com writes that the Raiders are expected to prioritize experience as they look to fill out the coaching staff. One name in particular that could stand out is Jim Schwartz, who hastily left the Browns after losing out on their head coaching job.

Per La Canfora, the veteran defensive coach has several fans in the building. This includes Kubiak, and the offensive-minded head coach presumably wouldn’t meddle in Schwartz’s defensive approach. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is also a “strong supporter” of the coach. Since the Raiders have traditionally shown a willingness to “spend heavily” on assistants, there’s an expectation among league sources that Schwartz will ultimately land in Las Vegas.

There would remain one hurdle in the Raiders’ pursuit, however: the Browns have Schwartz under contract through 2026, meaning Las Vegas would have to negotiate with the AFC foe to lure the coach. As Albert Breer of SI.com notes, this has led some to believe that Schwartz could simply sit out the upcoming campaign, and there’s some belief that the coach may be simply waiting for the Eagles DC job to open up.

On the offensive side of the ball, Seahawks quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is a “natural candidate,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Prior to his success with Darnold, Janocko was credited with getting some of the best career showings from the likes of Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields, and Derek Carr. It’s no coincidence that the coach has also joined Kubiak in multiple stops, making him an obvious candidate for the gig. Of course, there’s also a chance the Seahawks simply look to promote him to their newfound OC vacancy.

Speaking of the Seahawks, Fowler notes that in-house options like offensive passing game coordinator Jake Peetz and running backs coach Justin Outten could also be options to replace Kubiak, as could Lions senior assistant Mike Kafka.

8 comments Cleveland Browns Las Vegas Raiders Newsstand Seattle Seahawks

Browns DC Jim Schwartz Resigns

By | at February 7, 2026 7:42 pm

FEBRUARY 7: Monken contacted Schwartz three days after his hire, attempting to arrange a partnership between the two. As The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes (subscription required), Schwartz “was not enthused” with the timing of the communication, something which further explains his resignation decision. ESPN’s Dan Graziano confirms Schwartz is likely to spend the 2026 season out of coaching before resurfacing elsewhere.

FEBRUARY 6: Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was a finalist to become their head coach, but the job ultimately went to Todd Monken on Jan. 28. Schwartz made it clear afterward that he wanted to leave Cleveland, and he’ll do just that a little over a week later. Schwartz has resigned, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network was among those to report.

In announcing Schwartz’s departure, the Browns stated: “Yesterday, Jim Schwartz submitted his letter of resignation as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. We’d like to thank Jim for his contributions to our organization over the last three seasons. Our search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately.”

The Browns tried to retain Schwartz as their defensive leader for a fourth season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Although they were unable to do it, they continue to hold his rights, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes. The 59-year-old is not expected to coach anywhere in 2026, per Garafolo. He stepped down with two years left on his contract.

Schwartz was the Lions’ head coach from 2009-13, but he hasn’t gotten another shot since he guided the team to a 29-51 record and one playoff berth in five seasons. While his time in Detroit didn’t go well, Schwartz was a top-tier defensive coordinator with the Titans from 2001-08. He has thrived in that role with the Bills (2014), Eagles (2016-20) and Browns (2023-25) since the Lions let him go. Schwartz won Super Bowl LII in Philadelphia.

After returning to Tennesee as a senior defensive assistant from 2021-22, now-former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski brought him in to replace Joe Woods as their D-coordinator. The Browns earned their most recent playoff berth in Schwartz’s first season, and his defense was a major contributor. The unit topped the league in total defense and ranked 13th in points allowed. Schwartz subsequently picked up AP Assistant Coach of the Year honors.

The Browns’ win total plummeted from 11 to three in 2024, during which their defense submitted below-average marks in yards (19th) and points (27th). Although the Browns struggled again during a 12-loss campaign this past season, Schwartz’s group did its best to make up for a bottom-of-the-barrel offense.

Cleveland’s defense rebounded to finish fourth in yards and 14th in scoring in 2025. End Myles Garrett set the all-time single-season sack record (23) en route to unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honors. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger also took home hardware on Thursday, the day Schwartz tendered his resignation. Schwesinger was voted the unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year after piling up 156 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions in 16 games.

Despite the success Garrett, Schwesinger and the rest of the Browns’ defense enjoyed under Schwartz, it wasn’t enough to earn a promotion. The Browns are higher on the offensive-minded Monken after his terrific three-year run as the Ravens’ play-caller. Monken, who emerged as the “strong No. 1 choice” in the Browns’ HC search, now faces the unenviable task of replacing Schwartz.

During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Monken expressed a desire to continue with the same defensive system in the event of Schwartz’s exit. With that in mind, Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso and defensive pass game coordinator Cory Undlin are names to watch for the Browns, Rapoport relays.

Vasso and Undlin serve under Texans DC Matt Burke, a Schwartz disciple who worked with him in Detroit and Philadelphia. Schwartz also had Vasso and Undlin on his staff with the Eagles, and now either could end up replacing him in Cleveland in the coming days. Undlin is familiar with the organization, having worked as a Browns assistant from 2005-08.

73 comments Cleveland Browns Houston Texans Newsstand

Browns HC Todd Monken To Call Offensive Plays; Latest On DC Jim Schwartz

By | at February 3, 2026 11:20 pm

After a successful three-year run as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, Todd Monken became the Browns’ head coach last week. During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Monken announced he’ll continue to call offensive plays in his new job (via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com).

Monken, now in his second stint in Cleveland, first worked there as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2019. However, head coach Freddie Kitchens called the plays then.

With Kitchens on his way out after a one-and-done season, Monken took the offensive coordinator position at Georgia in 2020 and went on to win two national championships in three years with the Bulldogs.

Monken returned to the NFL with the Ravens in 2023 and proceeded to lead top-tier offenses in back-to-back years. Quarterback Lamar Jackson won the MVP in Monken’s first season at the helm. Jackson nearly pulled off the feat again in 2024, when the Ravens finished first in yardage and third in scoring. Meanwhile, with 1,921 rushing yards that year, running back Derrick Henry fell just short of becoming the first player to reach 2,000 in two different seasons.

The Ravens dropped to 11th in points and 16th in total offense in Monken’s final year at the controls, though an injury-plagued season for Jackson was the main culprit. He missed four games and was seldom at full strength in his 13 appearances.

Jackson and Henry are elite talents, which is something the Browns’ offense is sorely lacking. There’s no clear in-house answer at quarterback, where Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson may compete for the starting job over the summer. Tight end Harold Fannin, who enjoyed a standout rookie year as a third-round pick, may be the Browns’ best offensive weapon. That honor belonged to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy a year ago, but his production plummeted this past season.

On the ground, second-round rookie running back Quinshon Judkins racked up 827 yards and seven TDs in 14 games in 2025. Judkins averaged just 3.6 yards per carry before fracturing his fibula and dislocating his ankle in Week 16. Those injuries shouldn’t affect the former Ohio State star in 2026, though, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s more efficient under Monken and new offensive coordinator Travis Switzer. Before joining Monken’s staff last week, Switzer impressed under him as the Ravens’ run game coordinator from 2024-25.

In order to maximize their skill players’ potential, the Browns will need to sufficiently address myriad questions along their offensive line this offseason. Pro Football Focus ranked the unit as the second-worst O-line in the league in 2025, and now a handful of Browns blockers are a little over a month from reaching free agency.

Guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, who have put together quality careers, don’t have contracts. Tackles Jack Conklin and Cam Robinson and center Ethan Pocic are also scheduled to hit the open market in March. Having suffered an early December Achilles tear, Pocic will be a free agent at an inopportune time.

Monken and Switzer will attempt to turn around an offense that was one of the league’s worst in 2025. Fortunately for then, there’s less work to do on the other side of the ball.

Led by coordinator Jim Schwartz, the Browns’ defense was a clear bright spot. The group ranked fourth in total defense and 14th in scoring, and all-world pass rusher Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23.

A couple weeks after the early January firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski, Schwartz joined Monken and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase as finalists for the role. Schwartz now wants out of Cleveland after the team passed on him in favor of Monken.

Schwartz still has two years left on his contract, though he may end up elsewhere in 2026 if his relationship with the Browns is beyond repair. Regardless, Monken revealed that the Browns will continue with the same defensive system.

“We’re not planning to change the (defensive) system,” he declared (via Zac Jackson of The Athletic). “We’re built for the system the (players are) in currently. I’m not gonna get into staffing (today) because it’s not the time to get into that, but (the players) can rest assured we’re going to keep the same system.”

Monken said he has “a lot of respect for Jim Schwartz, as I would hope he has for me,” but declined to comment on Schwartz’s status. With Monken working to assemble his staff, an answer regarding Schwartz’s future could come sooner than later.

7 comments Cleveland Browns

Eagles DC Vic Fangio Expected To Return In 2026

By | at February 2, 2026 4:53 pm

FEBRUARY 2: Fangio did indeed “seriously entertain” retirement in recent days, but PHLY Sports’ EJ Smith reports the Eagles are now “confident” he will remain in place for at least one more year. A third season with Philadelphia as the team’s D-coordinator can be expected.

FEBRUARY 1: The Eagles have already made a change at offensive coordinator this year, hiring Sean Mannion to replace the demoted Kevin Patullo. It is unclear whether the club will also be in search of a new defensive coordinator.

During a recent appearance on The Anthony Gargano Show, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network said he has not heard that DC Vic Fangio is retiring, nor has he heard that Fangio will return (video link). He added that he would not be surprised either way. 

According to Garafolo, during the Eagles’ Super Bowl party last year, Fangio told his fellow attendees that he appreciated working with them and suggested he was going to end his career on a high note with a Super Bowl ring. And then he elected to continue working. 

It sounds as if something similar transpired this year. Citing multiple sources, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com says Fangio told the team he was retiring, only to be convinced to come back for at least one more season. That said, a team spokesperson declined to confirm that Fangio would remain in place in 2026.

Following up on Kempski’s report, Garafolo reiterates that while Fangio appears to be leaning towards returning at the moment, that could still change. Dianna Russini of The Athletic also heard that Fangio waffled a bit in 2025, but a team source told her that “we’ll convince him to stay” in 2026.

It is not difficult to see why the Eagles want Fangio to return. One of the most respected and influential defensive minds in the game, Fangio joined Philadelphia in his current capacity in 2024, after a collapse on the defensive side of the ball torpedoed the club’s chances of a deep postseason run the year prior. A concerted effort to address deficiencies in the secondary certainly helped, but after the Eagles finished 26th in total defense and 30th in scoring defense in 2023, they finished first and second, respectively, in those areas in 2024. They went on to capture the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Although Fangio’s unit regressed a bit in 2025, its performance was still respectable (13th in total defense, fifth in scoring defense). This time, it was the Patullo-directed offense that undermined Philadelphia’s championship aspirations.

Additionally, with a rookie play-caller in the offensive coordinator seat, it stands to reason that head coach Nick Sirianni wants some stability and experience among his top lieutenants. It does appear the Eagles have been formulating a backup plan just in case Fangio decides to call it quits.

According to Kempski, Philadelphia reached out to former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, whose success in that role over the 2021-22 campaigns helped him become the Cardinals’ head coach in 2023. Arizona cut ties with him last month, and he subsequently accepted the Packers’ DC position.

Philly was also planning to contact Jim Schwartz, per Kempski. Schwartz was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator when they won their first Super Bowl title at the end of the 2017 season. After being passed over for the Browns’ head coaching job in this year’s cycle, Schwartz reportedly wants out of Cleveland, where he has worked as the DC since 2023.

Now 67, Fangio previously said he wants to finish his coaching career as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. It is too soon to say whether that time has already come. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer says Fangio has not responded to questions about his future since the 2025 season came to an end.

10 comments Philadelphia Eagles

Browns Hire Todd Monken As HC

By | at January 28, 2026 11:30 pm

11:30pm: Monken’s contract with the Browns will be five years in length, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. That has become the standard for new head coaching hires, with all of this year’s hires receiving a similar deal.

9:49am: Three-plus weeks after firing Kevin Stefanski, the Browns have found their next head coach. They’re hiring former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. The Browns have officially announced the move.

After the Browns canned Stefanski on Jan. 5, they sent their first known external interview request to Monken the next day. He booked a second interview with the Browns on Jan. 20 and became a finalist for the position, joining defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.

The Browns told Scheelhaase they were going in another direction this morning, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Scheelhaase will remain with the Rams in 2026, according to Fowler.

Schwartz had reportedly picked up momentum toward a promotion, but the Browns will instead go outside the organization and choose a fourth straight offensive-minded head coach. While Schwartz remains under contract with the Browns, there’s “no guarantee” he’ll stay in place, according to Fowler. Unsurprisingly, Schwartz is likely to draw widespread interest from across the NFL, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports relays.

With the 60-year-old Monken on his way in, the Browns haven’t hired a defense-first candidate since they handed the reins to Mike Pettine in 2014. Between Pettine’s two-year run and Stefanski’s six-season tenure, the Browns turned to Hue Jackson for a couple of disastrous campaigns and Freddie Kitchens during a one-and-done 2019. Monken was Cleveland’s offensive coordinator under Kitchens. The unit finished 22nd in scoring and total offense that year, making for an interesting reunion given the dysfunction that engulfed the Browns during Kitchens’ 2019 season in charge. Although Monken was not believed to be happy during that Kitchens-led season, he is coming back to Cleveland to run the show.

After his first stint with the Browns, Monken returned to the college ranks, where he has garnered most of his coaching experience since he began as a graduate assistant at Grand Valley State in 1989. Monken was Georgia’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020-22, an eminently successful run in which the Bulldogs won two national championships.

Before the Browns brought him back, Monken spent the past three seasons running AFC North rival Baltimore’s offense. The Ravens boasted an elite offense during Monken’s first two years at the controls. Quarterback Lamar Jackson won the MVP award in 2023 and nearly repeated during a first-team All-Pro campaign in 2024. With injuries limiting Jackson to 13 games in 2025, the Ravens finished 11th in scoring and 16th in yards.

The Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh after stumbling to an 8-9 record, and they didn’t interview Monken before hiring Jesse Minter. With Harbaugh now the Giants‘ head coach, it seemed likely Monken would follow him to New York as his offensive coordinator. Indeed, the team was “very confident” it would reel in Monken, per Connor Hughes of SNY. The Giants and Monken had even worked on a contract in recent days, Fowler adds, but Harbaugh will have to look elsewhere.

While Monken’s reputation as a coordinator precedes him, he’s largely an unknown as a head coach. His only experience in that position came with Southern Miss from 2013-15. The Golden Eagles combined for a dismal 4-20 mark in Monken’s first two seasons, but they made a huge leap to 9-5 in his last year on the job. Monken then departed to become the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, and Southern Miss hasn’t reached nine wins in any season since then.

In his first head coaching role in the NFL, Monken will face another daunting task in attempting to reverse the Browns’ fortunes. Stefanski earned Coach of the Year honors twice and led the Browns to two playoffs appearances, most recently in 2023, but posted a horrid 8-26 record over the past two seasons. The Browns’ Schwartz-coached defense ranked fourth in yards allowed in 2025, though an offense that finished 30th in yards and 31st in scoring doomed the club to a 5-12 mark.

Monken worked with a superstar quarterback in Baltimore, but he won’t have that luxury in Cleveland – at least not at first. Shedeur Sanders may be the frontrunner to start 2026 after finishing this season as the Browns’ No. 1 option. While Sanders oddly received a Pro Bowl invitation as a sub, the fifth-round rookie didn’t prove himself as a slam-dunk answer during his first seven starts in Cleveland. Meanwhile, third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel fared worse than Sanders before suffering a concussion against the Ravens in Week 11.

Along with Sanders and Gabriel, Deshaun Watson could also factor in to some degree after missing all of this season while recovering from a ruptured Achilles. The Browns’ decision to trade a bounty of picks to the Texans in 2022 and immediately hand Watson $230MM in guarantees was a head-scratcher from the get-go, and it has aged like milk since then.

Watson has made 19 mostly underwhelming starts in a Browns uniform over four years. Even though the former star signal-caller is due to count $80.72MM against the Browns’ cap next season, they’re likely stuck with him. It would cost the Browns an eye-popping $131.16MM in dead money to release Watson in 2026.

General manager Andrew Berry, who acquired Watson, is confident Monken is the right fit for Cleveland.

“Todd has a varied and diverse background that we found as a particularly appealing match for our team at this stage in its life cycle,” Berry said on Wednesday. “He has a direct, demanding, and detail-oriented leadership style that will create a great incubator for a young team. His successful offensive track record at both the pro and college level with a variety of offensive systems and QB skill sets will allow maximum flexibility as we make several, long-term investments on that side of the ball.”

Berry’s statement suggests the Browns will exercise patience with Monken, which will be necessary in the short term. With the Browns holding two first-round picks this year, including the sixth overall selection, Berry will be in position to give Monken more young talent to work with in 2026.

87 comments Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams New York Giants Newsstand

Browns DC Jim Schwartz Wants Out; 49ers Among Potential Suitors

By | at January 28, 2026 11:27 pm

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was among three finalists for the Browns‘ head coaching job before they announced their choice Wednesday. As of Monday, Schwartz was reportedly “gaining momentum” for a promotion, but the team instead passed on him and Rams assistant Nate Scheelhaase in favor of ex-Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The decision isn’t sitting well with Schwartz.

Although Schwartz is still under contract with the Browns, he has informed those close to him that he wants out of Cleveland, according to Rapoport of NFL Network. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network and Jordan Schultz pass along similar information.

Schwartz’s contract status prevents him from taking another job, but a source told Schultz, “If it has to get ugly, Schwartz is someone who will be perfectly fine making it ugly.”

It probably won’t get to that point, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports says. In an ideal world for the Browns, Schwartz will stay in his current post. If Schwartz truly wants out, though, Jones doesn’t expect the Browns to turn this into a “hostage” situation. The sense in the building is that there’s “no chance” Schwartz will be back in 2026, Schultz adds.

If Schwartz does head elsewhere in 2026, San Francisco is among the teams that could pursue the 59-year-old, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. It’s a situation the 49ers are “undoubtedly monitoring,” Nick Wagoner of ESPN relays. Schwartz would replace former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who left to become the Titans’ head coach. Kyle Shanahan identified assistant head coach Gus Bradley as an “obvious” successor to Saleh last week, but with Schwartz potentially about to hit the market, that may change.

The 49ers are just one possibility for Schwartz, who will surely land on multiple teams’ radars if his divorce with the Browns goes through. While Schwartz had a largely unsuccessful run as the Lions’ head coach from 2009-13, he has long been one of the game’s top assistants on the defensive side. A longtime D-coordinator in Tennessee before he moved to Detroit, Schwartz has worked on defensive staffs with the Bills, Eagles (with whom he won Super Bowl LII), Titans and Browns since 2014.

The Browns finished No. 1 in total defense under Schwartz in 2023, his first year as their coordinator. The unit took steps backward last year, but it was fourth in total defense and 14th in points allowed in 2025. Defensive end Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23, and he has made his affinity for Schwartz known in the past.

“(I) love Jim and I love playing for him,” Garrett told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com earlier this month.

Garrett requested a trade in early February of last year, though he wound up signing a four-year, $160MM extension a month later. The Browns went on to win just five games in 2025, though, and Garrett made it clear toward the end of the season he’s not interested in a rebuild. Whether Garrett believes a potential Schwartz exit would damage the Browns’ chances of competing in 2026 is unknown, but we may hear his opinion soon enough.

68 comments Cleveland Browns San Francisco 49ers
Show all