The architect of the league’s best defense in 2023 has been acknowledged for his efforts.
Jim Schwartz, the Browns defensive coordinator, was named the Associated Press 2023 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year on Thursday night at the NFL Honors in Las Vegas.
Schwartz’s aggressive strategy worked wonders for the Browns’ defense, which finished first in the league in yards allowed (270.2 per game), tied for fifth in interceptions (28) and sixth in sacks (49) in 2023. Compared to last year’s figures (331.2 YPG, 10 takeaways, 34 sacks), Schwartz’s first year in Cleveland revealed the potential of a talented Browns defense that had previously underwhelmed.
The Browns had one of the most difficult defenses to move the chains on in 2023, leading the league in first downs allowed (253), third-down conversion rate (29.1%), and fourth-down conversion rate (40%). Cleveland drove opposing offenses into three-and-outs on 48.6% of total drives, ranking first in the NFL, according to NFL Research. It was the highest three-and-out percentage for any team since the 2005 Titans (48.7%), who were also led by Schwartz.
Cleveland’s defensive turnaround came at the right time, as the team battled injuries all season. In the end, the Browns became the only team in NFL history to reach the playoffs despite having four different quarterbacks start multiple regular-season games. Having a steady defense that caused chaos in the pocket undoubtedly helped them achieve this achievement.
Schwartz adds another honor to his resume, which includes the Super Bowl ring he received as Eagles DC in 2017. The 57-year-old began his NFL career as a personnel scout for the Browns 30 years ago, and his long, winding journey back to Cleveland resulted in another remarkable season, culminating in him being named AP Assistant Coach of the Year.
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Could the man who relocated the Browns to Baltimore still help keep the team in Cleveland today?
Cleveland, Ohio (WOIO) – According to reports, the Haslams are close to reaching an agreement to acquire a property in Brook Park.
But might the guy who relocated the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996 still help keep the franchise in Cleveland today?
Within months after former Browns owner Art Modell moving the club to Maryland, Ohio lawmakers passed legislation to ensure that what happened in Cleveland did not happen again.
This Ohio statute became effective in June 1996 and is also known as the Art Modell law.
The law generally imposes relocation limits on owners of professional sports teams that use a tax-supported facility, such as the Browns, whose stadium is owned by the city of Cleveland.
According to the law, owners are prohibited from moving their teams unless they reach an agreement with the city or provide at least six months’ notice of their intention to relocate and give the city, or an individual or group of individuals who live in the area, the opportunity to purchase the team.
The Art Modell law essentially prevented the Columbus Crew soccer team from migrating to Texas.
The city of Columbus and Governor Mike DeWine, the state’s attorney general at the time, sued the Crew’s owner on this premise in 2018.
That lawsuit halted the crew’s relocation, and months later, the team was acquired to new owners who planned to retain them in Ohio.
The new owners were Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who also control the Cleveland Browns.
Moving a team to another state is not the same as moving to a neighboring city, but the Art Modell law does not specify that it solely applies to out-of-state relocation.
So, if this goes forward, it’s feasible that this may end up in court.
