The Lions have secured a playoff spot for the first time in six years. Before this drought, the Lions made three playoff appearances in six years. That run began in the 2011 season under then head coach Jim Schwartz, who is currently serving as the defensive coordinator for the Browns. Schwartz was fired two years later and has not held a head coaching position since. However, the goal of becoming a head coach is still on his mind.

In a recent interview, Schwartz expressed his aspirations for the future, according to ESPN’s Jake Trotter. “You always aspire to the top of the profession,” Schwartz told the media, “and I’m not different there.”

Schwartz first reached the peak of the sport after a long tenure in Tennessee. After working three years as a personnel scout in Cleveland and another three as an outside linebackers coach in Baltimore, Schwartz joined the Titans as a defensive assistant and was later promoted to linebackers coach. After a year coaching linebackers, he became the defensive coordinator, a role he held for eight seasons before becoming a head coach.

Schwartz faced a tough task in his first head coaching job, inheriting Rod Marinelli‘s infamous 0-16 2008 Lions squad. Alongside rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, Schwartz led the team to winning two games in his first year and six in his second. Detroit earned a Wild Card spot with a 10-6 record in Schwartz’s third year before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The team then struggled in the next two seasons, failing to make the playoffs.

Since then, Schwartz has consistently led top NFL defenses. In his first year post-Detroit, he led a Bills defense that finished fourth in both points and yards allowed. Two years later, Schwartz began the turnaround of one of the league’s worst defensive units in Philadelphia. In only his second year with the Eagles, Schwartz helped the defense to finish fourth in points and yards allowed during their 2017 Super Bowl run.

In 2020, Schwartz resigned from his position due to health issues and took on a senior defensive assistant position in Tennessee. The Browns then hired Schwartz, and he has successfully improved their defensive unit, which has allowed the fewest yards in the NFL by a large margin.

Having delivered in multiple locations and turned around poor defenses quickly, Schwartz is now attracting head coaching interest once again. While he seems content in Cleveland, the allure of leading a team is strong. If the right opportunity presents itself, Schwartz may take a second chance to become a head coach in the NFL.