The Cleveland Browns' head coaching search has hit a major snag.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the architect of their elite defense, is now the primary roadblock.

Chris Shula refused to interview, Mike McDaniel and Grant Udinski pulled out of it. Nate Scheelhaase seemed like a great hope, and the team has done an 2nd interview with him, but is now hesitant.

"𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: Nate Scheelhaase and other HC candidates have been hesitant to move forward with the Browns due to Ownership not allowing them to bring a new DC in over Jim Schwartz, per @JaredKMueller Unless someone will come into Cleveland and be fine with this arrangement, Schwartz actually might get the job."

The Browns have a big dilemma to solve now: make Jim Schwartz the head coach and lose Scheelhaase, or hire Scheelhaase and lose Schwartz. The biggest problem is that in both situations, they lose their defensive coordinator, the one who rejuvenated their defense.

With him as DC this season, the Browns allowed just 283.6 total yards per game (4th-fewest) and 167.2 passing yards per game (3rd-fewest). They have now gone 45 straight games without allowing a 300-yard passer, the longest active streak in the NFL. But on the other hand, Nate Scheelhaase can fix their offense.

The Browns had the second-fewest passing yards this season (3,152)and the third-lowest passing touchdowns (16) as well. Scheelhaase guided the Rams to the number 1 rank in the league with 4,557 passing yards and averaged 268.1 passing yards per game.

He does seem like just the guy the Browns need and also, there's an issue with Schwartz as well.

Why Jim Schwartz As A Head Coach Can Backfire?

There's no doubting the fact that Schwartz revolutionized the Browns' defense. With him as the DC this season, Cleveland finished third in the league with 53 sacks, setting a new franchise record. But that's where the problem begins.

If they make him the head coach, the Browns would be forced to look for a new defensive coordinator, and would that be as good as Schwartz? Plus, another big problem is that his experience as a head coach runs very parallel to that of Kevin Stefanski with the Browns.

He was the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009 to 2013, and he also led them to the playoffs in 2011. But that was the only good and winning season he had with that team, and it had players like Matthew Stafford. The Lions fired him in 2013 after a 29-51 record.

Do let us know what you think about Schwartz as the head coach?

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu