Jim Schwartz has no shortage of memories with the Detroit Lions and at their home Ford Field.
A well-respected defensive mind in the NFL for nearly three decades, Schwartz had his lone head coaching stint with the Lions from 2009-2013 and led the franchise to the playoffs in 2011 for the first time since 1999.
He now returns to Detroit for the first time since 2016 as the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator for an intriguing matchup that pits an elite offense against a high-level defense on Sunday.
“I admire what (coach Dan Campbell’s) done with the team. You know, they’re in his image,” Schwartz told reporters on Thursday. “They play tough, they play physical. It’ll be fun to go against them. It’s been been a minute…still got a lot of friends there. Very grateful for my time there.”
Schwartz worked his way up as a top defensive assistant in the NFL during the late 1990s and early 2000s, eventually becoming the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator in 2001.
He served in that role until 2009, when the Lions hired him to replace Rod Marinelli following their infamous 0-16 season in 2008.
Detroit showed flashes of growth throughout his five-season tenure, namely posting a 10-6 record to reach the 2011 postseason, where they would lose to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Game.
“I really enjoyed my time there,” Schwartz said. “My family did. I love the the players, I love the city, really love the organization.”
After starting the 2013 season 6-3, the Lions dropped six of their final seven games and Schwartz was fired after posting a 29-51 record in five seasons.
He quickly caught on as the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills were he drew ire from his former team by returning to Ford Field the next season and beating the Lions.
He was carried off the field by Bills players after the 17-14 result before going on to post the franchise’s first winning record in 10 years during that season.
Schwartz eventually landed the defensive coordinator role with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016, where he built the Super Bowl 52-winning defense after inheriting one of the league’s worst defenses. His last visit to Detroit was with the Eagles in 2016 — in a game the Lions won 24-23.
Following a brief step away from coaching due to health issues, he returned to the NFL with the Browns in 2023 and instantly created one of the league’s best defenses, earning the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
His unit is just as talented in 2025, currently leading the NFL in rushing defense and total defense through three games.
Even though it will be business as usual come Sunday with the Browns looking for an upset at Ford Field, Schwartz still thinks of the Lions highly and — when he’s not on the opposite sideline — enjoys watching their success.
“I’ve been back a couple times since,” Schwartz said. “Now that I’m in the AFC, you know, and when I was with the Eagles it was hard to root for them when you weren’t playing them because they’re in the same conference and you don’t want any of those NFC teams to win. Now that I’m here, you know, you can root for them.”