CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken are still very much in the mix for the Browns head coach vacancy as the team kicks off second interviews on Thursday with two younger finalists in their search, league sources tell cleveland.com.
Schwartz and Monken, both 59 and with decades of coaching experience, interviewed with the Browns for the second time on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Both emerged from those interviews still in contention to replace Kevin Stefanski as the 19th head coach of the Browns.
The remaining two finalists are Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who’s interviewing here on Friday, and Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, who can interview as early as Monday after facing the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was scheduled to interview for a second time on Thursday, but he and the Browns mutually agreed to cancel because Minter feels he has a better chance of getting hired as head coach by one of the other teams with whom he’s interviewed.
He’s had second interviews with the Raiders and Ravens, and might get more. Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel pulled out of the running on Tuesday to take the Chargers offensive coordinator job on Wednesday.
The Browns must also interview one more diverse candidate besides Scheelhaase to satisfy the Rooney Rule.
Schwartz, in addition to his 17 years as a highly successful coordinator, spent five seasons as Detroit Lions head coach from 2009-13, going 29-51 in the regular season and 0-1 in the playoffs. It’s been a long time since he’s been in the head chair, but has worked for four teams since then and has won a Super Bowl as defensive coordinator with the Eagles.
Governing one of the best defenses in the NFL over the past three seasons here according to many key metrics, Schwartz would bring new insights and schematics to the job in his second stint. He’d also have to find a new offensive coordinator now that the previous one, Tommy Rees, has joined Stefanski in that capacity in Atlanta. Schwartz would also have to add a new receivers coach with Chad O’Shea leaving for that post in Kansas City.
He might also have to find a new special teams coordinator with Bubba Ventrone possibly set to find a new team, and a new defensive coordinator to follow his own tough act. Safeties coach Ephraim Banda, who’s interviewed for the coordinator jobs with the Jets and Patriots, is one possible candidate to replace Schwartz.
But Schwartz, 2023 AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year, has been around long enough to assemble a quality NFL staff, and the Browns would have no concerns about that. He could also look to the current Browns crop of offensive finalists — Monken, Udinski and Scheelhaase — for his next coordinator, depending on their other opportunities. The latter two have never called plays, and could take a promotion based on that duty.
Schwartz has also interviewed for the Ravens head coach vacancy, and appears to still be in the mix there too. He’d also likely have interest from teams as coordinator, including possibly the 49ers, which Richard Sherman speculated Thursday on his podcast.
If Schwartz doesn’t get promoted, the Browns would love to keep him as coordinator, and have articulated that to their other finalists. The new head coach, however, will have the authority to hire his own staff.
As for Monken, who was Browns offensive coordinator here under Freddie Kitchens in 2019, the Browns admire the impact he’s had on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense, taking the unit to an elite level during his three-year stint. Jackson also earned his second AP NFL MVP award under Monken’s guidance in 2023, producing the NFL’s fourth-best passer rating (102.7) while throwing for 3,678 yards with 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
Jackson added 821 rushing yards and five TDs to become the only QB in NFL history with multiple seasons (also 2019) reaching the incredible 3,000/800 milestone.
In his first two seasons at the helm, Monken’s offenses ranked first in red zone TD pct. (67.9), rushing yards per game (172.1) and passer rating (110.8) and second in points per game (28.4), yards per play (6.3) and total yards per game (397.6) during this span. He was also coordinator of the Bucs from 2016-18 before joining the Browns for Kitchens’ one-and-done season.
With the Browns aiming for an explosive offense, Monken certainly has the credentials to get the job done. Of course, he’d need the quarterback to pull it off and currently the Browns have Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders set to compete for the job in 2026 unless they draft their starting quarterback or acquire another veteran. The problem is, there aren’t many quality veterans coming available, with Packers backup Malik Willis one of the few on the list.
If Monken gets the job, it’s possible he’ll keep Schwartz as defensive coordinator, and then have to build out his offensive staff. If he doesn’t get the head coach job or coordinator post here, he has a chance to join John Harbaugh as offensive coordinator with the Giants. Harbaugh seems to be keeping the job open for Monken in the event he doesn’t become Browns head coach.
But Monken, a former college quarterback, is as viable a candidate as any of the five finalists.
As for Udinski, 30, and Scheelhaase, 35, both have generated a lot of buzz in the Browns search, and are two of the brightest and most innovative minds in the game. The Browns would be taking a leap of faith on them, but they might be worth it based on their high football acumen and leadership skills. Scheelhaase has also played quarterback in college, with a record-setting four seasons at Illinois.
Both of the rising offensive stars have other opportunities, including Udinski with the Bills, who will interview him Sunday for their head coach vacancy. If the Browns hire him, he’d be the youngest NFL head coach ever hired, beating out Sean McVay by almost a year. Udinski turned 30 on Jan. 12, and McVay was 30 and 353 days when the Rams tabbed him in 2017. Both Udinski and Scheelhaase come directly or indirectly from the coveted McVay tree.
In the event the Browns hire any of the three candidates besides Schwartz, they’d run the risk of losing him. But another good defensive assistant could likely flourish with the talent on the unit.
With four of the 10 vacancies already filled, the Browns could name their man by next week, unless it’s Scheelhaase and he plays in the Super Bowl Feb. 8. But by all accounts, he might be worth the wait.
They’re down to four, and they’re getting closer.
Editor’s note: This post was updated to include the fact that the Browns and Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter mutually agreed to cancel his Thursday interview because he feels he has a better chance to land one of the other head coach gigs for which he’s interviewed.
Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com’s Browns reporters.
