Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz could remain on staff if specific coach gets head coaching job, according to Ian Rapoport
The Cleveland Browns search for a new head coach is rolling into a third week after the organization parted ways with Kevin Stefanski on Jan 5. A critical decision awaits them in the coming days, but not before the team talks with Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
With LA playing in Sunday's NFC Championship game, the Browns weren't permitted to meet in-person with Scheelhaase until this coming week.
That conversation is reportedly set to take place on Monday and will then set the stage for Cleveland to finish up their extensive search and make a decision, granted they will still need to meet with another minority candidate to be compliant with the Rooney Rule.
The Browns are expected to consider Scheelhaase, along with Jacksonville Jaguars OC Grant Udinski, who had an in-person interview on Friday, and the team's current defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, who had his second interview early in the week.
According to one insider, though, there's a path where two of those three main options are both part of Cleveland's future. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted in his latest story Saturday that hiring Scheelhaase could come with Schwartz remaining on staff in his current role.
"Sources say they plan to meet with Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase early in the week, as he is among their top candidates. Scheelhaase would likely keep defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz," wrote Rapoport.
In the aftermath of Stefanski's firing, both team owner Jimmy Haslam and VP of Football Operations and GM Andrew Berry made their fondness for Schwartz known. That's also been proven by the fact that Schwartz has remained a candidate for the job and has undergone two interviews.
There is a desire to keep Schwartz in some capacity, and perhaps finding a way to retain him in his current role as DC, while hiring a young up-and-coming mind like Scheelhaase presents a best of both worlds scenario for Cleveland.
It remains to be seen if Udinski or even former Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken, who also had a second interview this week, would consider keeping Schwartz around as DC.
Regardless, the week ahead will be a telling one in the Browns finding their next head coach.