Raiders Rumor Gives New Life to Jim Schwartz Joining Las Vegas Despite DC Hire

Las Vegas, NV — The Raiders’ decision to promote Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator appeared to slam the door on Jim Schwartz’s candidacy, but whispers around the league suggest the veteran strategist could still find his way to Allegiant Stadium in 2024.

Schwartz, who resigned last month after three seasons steering Cleveland’s defense, was reportedly on the Raiders’ radar before Leonard’s promotion. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the organization has not closed the book on adding the 57-year-old in a senior advisory capacity.

“Based upon the people I’ve talked to since Rob Leonard was promoted to defensive coordinator, I’ve heard different opinions about this, but there is still a belief… that Schwartz could still end up with the Raiders,” Florio said on PFT Live. “Assistant Head Coach Defense, Senior Defensive Assistant, something. They could still try to land him if and when the Browns release his rights.”

Contractual hurdles remain: Schwartz is still under contract with Cleveland, meaning any move would require the Browns to grant his release. Once that procedural step is cleared, Florio believes Las Vegas would represent an attractive landing spot for a coach who has already spent two seasons (2021-22) as Tennessee’s senior defensive assistant under Mike Vrabel.

The appeal for the Raiders is obvious. Schwartz’s résumé includes 13 years as a defensive coordinator and five as a head coach, experience that could prove invaluable to first-time play-caller Leonard and first-time head coach Klint Kubiak. During his tenure in Cleveland, Schwartz molded a top-five unit and earned league-wide respect for his schematic ingenuity and ability to develop talent.

While Schwartz would not handle play-calling duties, his presence in meeting rooms and on game days could accelerate the growth of a defense that finished in the middle of the pack last season. The arrangement would mirror his 2021 role with the Titans, when he served as a sounding board for then-coordinator Shane Bowen while keeping his own head-coaching aspirations alive.

“I just think that Schwartz is too damn smart to give up, to cry ‘Uncle’ and walk away,” Florio added. “If he wants to coach this year, there’s a way to pull it off… Let’s see how it plays out.”

For now, the chess match continues. The Browns must name a new defensive coordinator, the Raiders must decide whether an additional voice is worth the potential overlap, and Schwartz must weigh the value of an advisory role against waiting for another coordinator or head-coaching opening. What once seemed like a closed case now carries the distinct possibility of an encore in silver and black.