The Cleveland Browns' defense experienced turmoil after Jim Schwartz left the team. He was promptly replaced by Mike Rutenberg, who is now getting major props from the teams' cornerback.

Tyson Campbell was direct about Rutenberg's early impact, saying:

"Rudy, off rip, he brings a lot of energy, a lot of passion, and that's what you want out of a D-coordinator, a guy that's all about team camaraderie, 11 guys playing as one," Campbell told Cleveland.com.

The team traded Campbell mid-season last year from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and played 12 games with the team.

As such, he never spent an entire season working under Schwartz and doesn't have personal experience with how his system worked. As for Rutenberg, Campbell feels the flow in the team with the new DC has been great.

The Browns' defense had delivered a strong performance in the 2025 season despite the team’s disappointing 5-12 record. They ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards allowed per game and third in passing yards allowed, while setting a franchise record with 53 sacks under coordinator Jim Schwartz. The unit stood out as one of the league’s bright spots.

But the question remains: If the defense was so strong under Schwartz's coaching, why did he leave the team?

Why did Jim Schwartz Leave The Browns?

Schwartz resigned as DC of the Cleveland Browns on February 6, 2026, after being passed over for the team's head coaching vacancy. Schwartz was one of the finalists to replace fired head coach Kevin Stefanski. However, the Browns instead hired Todd Monken, the former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator.

Deeply disappointed, Schwartz made it clear he had no interest in returning under Monken. He submitted a formal letter of resignation despite having two years left on his contract through 2027. The Browns attempted to persuade him to stay on the new staff, but he declined.

Schwartz is expected to sit out the entire 2026 season due to the terms of his deal. His exit followed three seasons in Cleveland, during which he built one of the NFL’s top defenses.

Do you think Schwartz should have stayed with the Browns?

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi