Jim Schwartz was hired by Philadelphia during the 2016 offseason and brings 27 years of NFL experience to the coaching staff, including five years as head coach of the Detroit Lions (2009-13).
Dating back to Schwartz's arrival in 2016, the Eagles rank among the Top 10 in the NFL in the following categories: rushing defense (1st, 93.4 ypg), red zone defense (2nd, 49.5 pct.), third-down defense (3rd, 35.4 pct.), scoring defense (7th, 20.8 ppg) and takeaways (9th, 94).
In 2019, Philadelphia forced the highest percentage of opponent three-and-out drives (27.5 pct.) in the NFL and ranked third in rushing defense (90.1 ypg), fourth in third-down defense (34.2 pct.) and 10th in yards allowed per game (331.7). Including playoffs, the Eagles allowed 17-or-fewer points in eight of the last 10 games of the season.
Philadelphia finished first in the league in red zone defense (44.6 pct.) and ranked sixth in third-down defense (35.3 pct.) and seventh in rushing defense (96.9 ypg) in 2018. Schwartz's defensive line, led by first-team All-Pro Fletcher Cox (career-high 10.5 sacks), produced more sacks (36.5) than any other defensive line in the NFL.
During the Super Bowl LII-winning campaign in 2017, the Eagles allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (79.2) in the NFL, ranked third in third-down defense (32.2 pct.) and produced the fourth-most takeaways (31). Philadelphia also allowed its fewest touchdowns (31) and rushing touchdowns (seven) since the 2008 campaign. In the playoffs, the defense played a pivotal role, surrendering only 10 points in the Divisional Round and seven points in the NFC Championship.
In 2016, Schwartz's first season with the Eagles, he guided the team's transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defensive and oversaw a unit that ranked third in the NFL in red zone defense (45.1 pct.). The defensive front featured two All-Pro honorees in Cox and Brandon Graham (led the NFL with 78 combined sacks, hurries and knockdowns) and Jordan Hicks led all NFL linebackers with five interceptions (career high).
In his lone season with the Buffalo Bills (2014), Schwartz directed a defense that notched a league-high 54.0 sacks and held opponents to a league-best 33.2 percent third-down conversion rate. The Bills ranked second in both scoring defense (16.9 ppg) and opponent quarterback rating (74.5). Schwartz also tutored a talented defensive line that saw Mario Williams (14.5), Marcell Dareus (10.0) and Jerry Hughes (10.0) set career highs in sacks, with Dareus, Williams and Kyle Williams collecting Pro Bowl honors at the end of the season.
Schwartz earned his first head coaching job in 2009, when he was hired by Detroit after the team went 0-16 in 2008. The Lions drafted Matthew Stafford in Schwartz's first offseason and the team saw steady improvement under his direction over the next three seasons, including a 10-6 record in 2011 that resulted in the team's first postseason appearance since the 1999 campaign.
In 2013, Detroit's defense led the league in opponent third-down conversion rate (30.3 pct.) and boasted the NFL's second-best red zone defense (161 points allowed and 38.1 pct. touchdown efficiency).
Schwartz's 2011 Lions playoff team recorded 34 total takeaways, which was tied for the third-highest mark in the NFL, including a league-leading and franchise-record seven return touchdowns (five interceptions and two fumbles). That year's defensive unit also finished third in the NFL in third-down conversion rate (67.3 pct.). Led by DE Cliff Avril and DT Ndamukong Suh, Detroit's defensive line accounted for 35.0 sacks, the fourth-most by a defensive line that season.
Prior to arriving in Detroit, Schwartz spent 10 seasons with the Tennessee Titans and served as the team's defensive coordinator from 2001-08. During Schwartz's time with Tennessee, the Titans made an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV, played in two AFC Championship Games, captured three division titles and earned six playoff berths.
In Schwartz's eight-year run as Tennessee's defensive coordinator, Titans defenses boasted a number of Pro Bowl selections, including Keith Bulluck, Kevin Carter, Cortland Finnegan, Albert Haynesworth, Chris Hope, Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch.
From 2007-08, Schwartz's final two seasons with Tennessee, the Titans accumulated a 23-9 record in the regular season, including a league-best 13-3 mark in 2008. In those two seasons combined, Tennessee's defense ranked fifth in sacks (84.0), third in interceptions (42) and fourth in forced fumbles (39). Also during that span, the Titans surrendered the second-fewest points in the NFL (531) and the fourth fewest total yards in the league (9,363).
Before taking over as defensive coordinator, Schwartz served as Tennessee's linebackers and third-down package coach in 2000. That season, the Titans boasted the league's top third-down defense, as the unit allowed just a 30.8 percent conversion rate.
Schwartz was originally hired by the Titans in 1999 as a defensive assistant after serving in the same capacity for the Baltimore Ravens during the 1996-98 seasons.
After coaching in the college ranks for four years from 1989- 1992, Schwartz entered the NFL in 1993 as a college/pro scout for the Cleveland Browns. While in Cleveland, he worked with then-Browns head coach Bill Belichick and members of the Cleveland personnel department, including George Kokinis, Michael Lombardi, Ozzie Newsome, Scott Pioli and Phil Savage.
A native of Baltimore, MD, Schwartz attended Georgetown University, where he was a four-year letterwinner at linebacker and earned his degree in economics. In 1988, Schwartz was named a team captain for the Hoyas and earned Division III CoSIDA/GTE Academic All-America and All-America honors.
Schwartz and his wife, Kathy, have three children: Christian, Allison and Maria.
