CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 07: Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz the field prior to the National Football League game between the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns on December 7, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, OH. Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA DEC 07 Titans at Browns EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251207064

Jan 9, 2026, 6:00 AM CUT

Browns Drops Major Jim Schwatrz & Tommy Rees Update as Head Coach Hunt Continues

After firing former head coach Kevin Stefanski for the 8-26 record in the past two seasons, the Browns have turned to familiar faces for an interview.

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz are two of three candidates the Browns will look into this week.

Tommy Rees

Rees joined the Browns in 2024 as the tight end/pass game specialist and was later promoted to the position of offensive coordinator. Even as a coordinator, he took over the responsibility of play calling in the 2025 season from Week 10.

In his time with the Browns, tight end David Njoku is counted among the top 10 players to have the most receptions and receiving touchdowns in the 2024 season. Similarly, Jordan Akins had a career high of 40 receptions and two scores.

Syndication: Akron Beacon Journal Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders 12 works with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees during NFL rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. Akron , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJeffxLangex USATSI_26134178

In the same season, the Browns compiled 111 receptions, 953 yards, and eight touchdowns while wide receiver Jerry Jeudy set a record 1,229 receiving yards and became a Pro Bowler. With that, Jeudy also set a record within the franchise for most receiving yards in a season.

Jim Schwartz

In his 17 years as a defense coordinator, 2023 marked Schwartz’s second outing with the Browns. He has worked with the franchise for three seasons, and in his first two seasons, the franchise ranked no.1 in the first downs allowed with 556.

They also ranked first in third-down percentage with 32.6 per cent, second in passing yards allowed per game with 188.6 yards, and third in total yards allowed per game with 306.1 yards.

Cleveland Browns Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz watches a replay during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday December 7, 2025. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUSA CLE20251207107 AARONxJOSEFCZYK

Schwartz made heavy contributions in the 2023 season and in leading the team to the playoffs. Their overall defence was best in the league with 270.2 yards per game. They were also ranked first in passing defense for scoring 164.7 yards per game and first downs allowed with 253.

Despite the teams’ poor performances and wobbly offence, Schwartz’s unit has fared well. With star defensive end Myles Garrett setting the NFL sack record, and placed third in the league with 53 sacks.

Both franchise owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Andrew Berry have promised a reformed team.

Will the Browns make an in-house hire and solve the rickety offense issues? Or will they become one of the most defense-dominant teams the NFL has ever seen? Tell us in the comments.

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu