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The Jim Schwartz era in Cleveland is over—officially, anyway. However, if you’ve been following Mike Florio’s latest breadcrumbs at Pro Football Talk, you know that in the NFL, "resigned" doesn't always mean "gone."
The Browns and their defensive mastermind have been locked in a cold war since Cleveland passed him over for the head coaching job. Schwartz eventually "blinked," handing in his resignation with the stated expectation that he won’t coach in 2026.
Here’s the catch: Cleveland still holds the cards. Schwartz is under contract through 2026, and the Browns even have an option for 2027. Since assistants can’t be traded like players, he is effectively in a career straitjacket.
So, could he actually return to the Dawg Pound? Don't count on a reconciliation. This isn't a "take a year off and come back" vibe; it’s a legal stalemate. The real intrigue lies in whether a team like the Raiders tries to "buy" his freedom. Cleveland could theoretically facilitate a "trade" by burying compensation in a separate player deal before "graciously" releasing Schwartz from his deal.
More: "It was special": Browns star Carson Schwesinger's raw reaction to Jim Schwartz’s shocking departure
The Browns are taking a hard stance on Schwartz, compared to letting other assistants who wanted out, walk away like Bill Callahan and Kyle Shanahan. It seems like they won’t let a top tier asset walk away to another team for free.
Schwartz might be out of the building, but until the Browns get what they want, this game of chicken is still very much alive.
More Browns News:
- Not seen in 22 years: Browns Myles Garrett and Carson Schwesinger just made NFL history
- Jim Schwartz resigns: Top 3 external candidates to lead Browns elite defense in 2026
- Who replaces Jim Schwartz? Ranking Browns 3 best in-house successors for Todd Monken
- Browns warning: Don’t fall for the $40M Malik Willis hype and salary cap trap
- Browns Quinshon Judkins injury update: 'Not good' says ESPN Cleveland host
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