Jim Schwartz hired as Eagles' defensive coordinator
Jim Schwartz arrived in Philadelphia on Monday and was hired as the Eagles' new defensive coordinator on Tuesday.
UPDATE: After being introduced Tuesday as the Eagles' new head coach, Doug Pederson said that Jim Schwartz would be the team's new defensive coordinator.
Schwartz arrived in Philadelphia on Monday and was to interview on Tuesday, an NFL source said.
The Eagles officially announced Pederson, the former Chiefs' offensive coordinator, as their new head coach on Monday.
Schwartz is a notable addition to offensive-minded Pederson's staff and one of the most important hires the first-time coach will make. Schwartz has vast experience as a defensive coordinator to go along with his five years as Lions head coach.
Schwartz, 49, did not coach anywhere this season and held a consulting position with the NFL's officiating department. He declined an offer to replace Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle in October.
The Eagles were not the only team to show interest in Schwartz this offseason. He interviewed with the Jaguars, and the Browns reportedly also had him on their radar.
Hiring Schwartz could mean the Eagles will return to a 4-3 scheme. They employed a two-gap, 3-4 base front the last three seasons under coach Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Bill Davis that emphasized stopping the run.
The Eagles still have many players who were initially acquired to play in a 4-3. Pro Bowl defensive end Fletcher Cox posted Monday on Twitter: "Did somebody say 4-3 . . . Or am I dreaming." Defensive end Vinny Curry, outside linebacker Brandon Graham and inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks also would likely welcome a return to an even-man front.
Schwartz has long been a proponent of an attacking defensive line that often has the ends line up in the nine-technique - otherwise known as the wide-nine - but only in certain situations. The Eagles utilized this scheme in 2012-13 when they brought in line coach Jim Washburn from the Titans.
Washburn worked under Schwartz from 2001-08 in Tennessee. The Titans' defenses were a mix of good and bad, depending upon the year, in Schwartz' first six seasons, but were among the league's best from 2007-08. They ranked fifth and seventh in yards allowed and eighth and second in points during that span.
Schwartz then took the Lions job, compiling a 29-51 record. Detroit never finished better than 13th in either yards or points allowed. He was fired after the 2013 season. Schwartz spent one season as defensive coordinator with the Bills and his unit ranked fourth in total yards and points allowed.
He was out of a job when coach Doug Marrone opted out of his contract.
Schwartz likely had to meet with Pederson before anything was final. However, there were reports that the Eagles had reached out to him before Pederson's impending hire was first reported on Thursday.
Howie Roseman, the Eagles' vice president of football operations, has been a fan of Schwartz and his scheme. He played a large role in bringing Washburn to Philadelphia.
The wide-nine was a disappointment here partly because the Eagles forced Juan Castillo, a neophyte NFL defensive coordinator, to run the scheme and also because they didn't have the appropriate run-stopping personnel behind the line.
The Eagles also reportedly were expected to hire Frank Reich, who was fired by the Chargers earlier this month, as offensive coordinator. Schwartz and Reich would give Pederson experienced play callers on both sides of the ball.
Pederson is expected to retain special-teams coordinator Dave Fipp, running backs coach Duce Staley, offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and defensive backs coach Cory Undlin from the current staff. They are all still under contract and Fipp, Stoutland and Undlin were denied the chance to follow Kelly to the 49ers, according to reports.
Defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro, quarterbacks coach Ryan Day and wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell, among other lower level assistants and support staff, reportedly were set to leave the Eagles for San Francisco.