The Cleveland Browns have been connected to a rather intriguing coaching change that would surely please the fanbase.
The Cleveland Browns are now just 2-8 on the season, which should not come as a surprise to anyone after they went 3-14 a year ago and didn't really do much to improve their roster during the offseason.
But could this horrific run ultimately spell the end for general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland?
ESPN's Tony Grossi thinks so, but he doesn't think it's a guarantee that the Browns will completely clean house. Why? He feels that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz may have a shot of landing Cleveland's head-coaching job.
"I think Jim Schwartz deserves to be a candidate for head coach," Grossi said. "... You can’t let him leave the building after you let [Mike] Vrabel leave the building. This is incredible that it’s gotten to this point."
Vrabel was serving as an assistant on the Browns staff last year and proceeded to accept the New England Patriots head-coaching job over the winter. He has led the Patriots — who were one of the worst teams in football last season — to a 9-2 record thus far in 2025.
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Credit: Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Schwartz has been serving as Cleveland's defensive coordinator since 2023 and has led a unit that has generally been elite throughout his entire tenure.
This year, the Browns rank second in the NFL in yards allowed, and that's thanks much in part to Schwartz's incredible scheme.
Outside of Myles Garrett, it's not like Cleveland has a ton of top-end talent on the defensive side of the ball, especially with cornerback Denzel Ward appearing to be in decline. So the Browns' defensive success is a testament to just how good of a job Schwartz has done.
Schwartz does have some head-coaching experience, as he served as Detroit Lions head coach from 2009 through 2013. While he did guide the Lions to a playoff appearance in 2011, his overall stint in Detroit wasn't very good, as he went just 29-51.
That was a long time ago, though, so perhaps Schwartz is more fit to lead a team now than he was over a decade ago.
There is still no guarantee that the Browns part ways with Stefanski, although Grossi seems to believe that Cleveland's Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens was the final nail in the coffin.