Jim Schwartz is an American football coach currently serving as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in his fourth season with the team as of 2026.[1][8] In his 27th year as an NFL coach and 17th as a defensive coordinator, he began his professional career as a college/pro scout with the Browns from 1993 to 1995 before advancing through coaching roles.[1][2][5] A Maryland native, Schwartz started coaching at the college level as a graduate assistant at the University of Maryland (1989-1990) and Minnesota (1990-1991), followed by positions at North Carolina Central (1991-1992) and Colgate (1992).[2] He entered the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, spending a decade there from 1999 to 2008, including eight years (2001-2008) as defensive coordinator—the youngest in franchise history at the time—where his unit led the Titans to a 13-3 record and an AFC South title in 2008.[1][2][6] Schwartz served as head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009 to 2013, guiding the team to the playoffs in 2011 after their 0-16 season in 2008, though his overall record was 29-51.[3][4] He later held defensive coordinator positions with the Buffalo Bills (2014), Philadelphia Eagles (2016-2020)—helping them win Super Bowl LII while leading the NFL in rush defense (79.2 yards per game)—and as a senior defensive assistant with the Titans (2021-2022), whose defense topped the league in rushing yards allowed.[1] During his coordinator tenure, he has coached seven different defensive linemen to double-digit sacks in a season.[1] Named the 2023 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in his first Browns season, Schwartz remains a key figure in Cleveland's defensive scheme under head coach Kevin Stefanski, bringing over three decades of NFL experience.[1][5] A notable 2011 postgame altercation with San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh during a Lions-49ers matchup drew media attention.[3]