The Buffalo Bills will need to craft a new defensive coaching staff now that Joe Brady has been hired as head coach. Former defensive coordinator Bobby Babich has already landed his next job as an assistant under new Green Bay Packers DC Jonathan Gannon, so there’s a lot of hope that Brady can fill the role with a coach with a proven background.
Of course, at the back end of the coaching carousel with staffs coming together around the league, it’s hard enough to keep track of who is even available. But when a big name drops in your lap, it’s even harder to look away.
The coaching carousel offered a late gift to teams looking for a defensive leader on Wednesday, as Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz became available in a shocking twist after the franchise hired Todd Monken as its new head coach.
Late coaching carousel twist hands Bills an unexpected advantage in defensive coordinator search
According to NFL Insider Tom Pellissero, Schwartz was reportedly upset at the front office for hiring Monken, said his goodbyes, and left the building, assuring the team he wouldn’t be back for the 2026 season.
Schwartz was a candidate for the head coach job in Cleveland himself, though the team mostly interviewed offensive-minded candidates whom they could pair with Schwartz. Initially, it seemed Monken was one of the few coaches willing not only to go along with the Browns’ interesting interviewing process but also to be matched up with Schwartz. But now, it appears Monken will need to find a new defensive coordinator, and Schwartz a new home.
While Schwartz is under contract, and this entire situation is in its early stages, if Schwartz becomes available, then the BIlls must show immediate interest in adding him to the staff. Schwartz is unquestionably one of the league’s top defensive minds, carrying Cleveland to top-5 finishes in yards allowed in two of the past three seasons with the team.
Schwartz’s top calling card for his defenses is the amount of pressure they put on opposing quarterbacks. There’s no greater example than Myles Garrett snagging the NFL’s single-season sack record in 2025, but Bills Mafia knows the impact Schwartz can have too.
After his stint as the head coach of the Detroit Lions, Schwartz was hired by the Bills in 2014. With Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Mario Williams at his disposal, the Bills turned in their first winning season in a decade and had the league’s No. 4 defense in points and yards allowed. Rex Ryan was hired the next season and didn’t keep Schwartz, and the Bills fell harshly in the defensive rankings until Sean McDermott’s unit caught on in 2019.
Pairing Brady up with Schwartz would be the type of move to instantly put faith in the next era of Bills football. If Schwartz truly is done with Cleveland, the Bills won’t want to miss out.