The Browns on Wednesday are interviewing Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for the team's head coach opening.
Schwartz, who broke into the NFL with the Browns back in 1993, is the sixth candidate to interview. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman interviewed Thursday, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy interviewed Friday, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh interviewed Saturday and Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll interviewed Monday.
Schwartz, 53, has led one of the league's toughest defenses in Philadelphia since 2016. The unit's best efforts came in 2017 during its Super Bowl LII run. The Eagles led the league in rush defense and ranked fourth in the league with 31 takeaways before surrendering just 17 combined points in their two NFC playoff victories. Though battered with injuries this season, Philadelphia's defense was once again among the best in the NFL against the run, allowing 90.1 rushing yards per game -- the third-best mark in the league.
Schwartz was named the head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2009 and held the position for five seasons. His best year was 2011, when Detroit -- led by young quarterback Matthew Stafford and a staunch, defense with all of Schwartz's trademark strengths -- won 10 games and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Detroit improved its record by four wins from Schwartz's first to second season and again to his third season. The Lions finished 7-9 in his final season, giving him a 29-52 record as head coach.
Schwartz was an assistant coach at the college level for four years before he broke into the NFL with the Browns in 1993. Schwartz was a personnel assistant on a Bill Belichick staff that featured a number of future head coaches and high-level player personnel executives. He was in Cleveland for three seasons before moving on to Baltimore as an outside linebackers coach when the franchise relocated. Schwartz's first coordinator gig came in 2001 with the Tennessee Titans, a job he'd hold until 2008 before taking the Lions head coach job.
Schwartz grew up in the Baltimore area and played linebacker at Georgetown University.
Bio Blast
Jim Schwartz - Eagles defensive coordinator
Age: 53
Hometown: Halethorpe, Maryland
College: Georgetown
NFL Experience: 26 years
Check out photos of who the Browns are interviewing to be their next head coach
FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 file photo, Minnesota Vikings interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Vikings have appointed Kevin Stefanski as offensive coordinator, after his interim stint over the last three games of the season. The 36-year-old Stefanski was promoted on Dec. 11 to replace John DeFilippo, who was fired in his first season on the job amid persistent struggles by the Vikings in moving the ball. Stefanski was a candidate for the head coach vacancy with the Cleveland Browns, who instead picked their own interim offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2020, file photo, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels watches his team warm up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans, in Foxborough, Mass. With the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants completing coaching hires on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, the Cleveland Browns job vacancy will be the last NFL opening filled. It's still unclear how quickly that will happen. The Browns, who fired Freddie Kitchens after just one season, are in the second week of interviews and have scheduled meetings this week with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Vikings coordinator Kevin Stefanski. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh looks on during warmups prior to an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in New Orleans. The 49ers defeated the Saints, 48-46. (Ryan Kang via AP)
FILE - In this June 12, 2019, file photo, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman speaks with reporters at the NFL football team's training facility in Owings Mills, Md. The success of the Ravens has created an interest in coordinators Greg Roman and Don Martindale as potential candidates to fill NFL head coaching vacancies. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll watches the team warm up before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is seen on the sidelines during a game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Atlanta. The Falcons won 24-20. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Detroit. The Chiefs defeated the Lions 34-30. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 24-17. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Detroit. The Chiefs defeated the Lions 34-30. (Joe Robbins via AP)
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels coaches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 24-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll watches practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Pittsford, N.Y., Thursday, July 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz speaks with members of the media during NFL football training camp Friday, July 27, 2018 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy watches during the first half of the NFL football Super Bowl XLV game with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman watches pregame warmups before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Los Angeles. The Ravens defeated the Rams 45-6. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Minnesota Vikings interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
