Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward holds back nothing on how he wants to see the Jim Schwartz situation work out for the team
Denzel Ward is in the camp of the Browns’ defensive coordinator returning to the team following Todd Monken’s hiring.
The Cleveland Browns have a very interesting development going on since the decision to hire Todd Monken as the next head coach.
Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was a finalist for the job along with Monken and Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
Once the Browns passed over Schwartz and went with Monken for the job, that didn’t sit well with the defensive coordinator. Since then, it’s been up in the air whether or not Schwartz will return.
Browns’ Pro Bowler wants to see Jim Schwartz back in Cleveland
Schwartz is still under contract in Cleveland for the next two seasons and the Browns would have to let him out of his contract if he wanted to take a coordinator job elsewhere. One of the defense’s leaders isn’t shying away from wanting his defensive coordinator back despite the fallout.
“I’m hoping coach Schwartz stays,” Denzel Ward said via Cleveland.com. “That’s what I’m hoping. That’s who I want to stay. I want coach Schwartz to be my defensive coordinator, and if we can make that happen, I’ll be happy.”
The last sentence is the key here. Ward says he will be happy if the Browns can keep their coordinator in place. Does that mean that Ward won’t be happy if there’s a change? That’s up for interpretation.
There were multiple reports that surfaced regarding Schwartz and how he took the news of not getting the job. Still employed as the defensive coordinator, it was stated that Schwartz packed up his office and told members of the organization that he would be leaving. Repairing this relationship is something that won’t happen overnight, so it’s not a surprise that things are still quiet.
If the Browns do indeed lose Schwartz and he takes the year off, it’s an attractive job. Coaching up the best defense over the last three years that should be even better in 2026 would have candidates excited. Cleveland has a competing defense with an underwhelming offense that has held it down the past couple of years.
With team leaders on the defensive side of the football speaking out that they want Schwartz to return, it’s an easy decision for the Browns to have him back. The ball should be in Schwartz’s court.
Cleveland Browns News
Clues surfacing on what’s going to happen with Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz following the hiring of Todd Monken
The Browns may be keeping DC Jim Schwartz around after all.
