Jim Schwartz, Browns "game of chicken" may not be over

Jim Schwartz has resigned from his position as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns with the expectation that he will not coach in 2026. Schwartz, who was previously passed over for the Browns' head coaching position in favor of Todd Monken, remains under contract with the Browns through 2026, with an option held by the team for 2027. This contractual situation means Schwartz is unable to take on another coaching role unless released by the Browns. While assistant coaches cannot be traded like head coaches, there is speculation that an informal agreement could be reached between teams to facilitate such a move. If Klint Kubiak becomes the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, there could be potential interest in Schwartz for the defensive coordinator position, although any such arrangement would require creative negotiation to navigate existing NFL rules.