Colts Head Coaching Search Wish List: Jim Schwartz

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 09: Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz of the Philadelphia Eagles and formally head coach of the Detroit Lions watches his defense at Ford Field on October 9, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 09: Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz of the Philadelphia Eagles and formally head coach of the Detroit Lions watches his defense at Ford Field on October 9, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Jim Schwartz is one of the most experienced coaches on the market who has had some success as a head coach in this league. Would Indianapolis be wise to take a look at Jim Schwartz this offseason?

Résumé

Jim Schwartz will have one of the most extensive résumés of any head coaching candidate this offseason after finishing his 25th season in the NFL.

Schwartz was a personnel scout for the Browns, and a linebackers coach for the Ravens and the Titans before he was promoted to the defensive coordinator position in Tennessee in 2001.

He held that position until 2008 before accepting the head coaching job in Detroit where he took over a team that had just gone 0-16.

Schwartz was able to lead the Lions to the playoffs in his third season as head coach, but he followed that up by going 4-12 and 7-9 before he was fired following the 2013 season.

He spent one season as the defensive coordinator in Buffalo before moving on to the defensive coordinator position with the Eagles in 2016. Schwartz has built one of the league’s best defenses in Philadelphia, which has him back in the NFL head coach conversation.

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Jim Schwartz’s Fit with the Colts

Schwartz’s career is definitely a mixed bag of failure and success, but Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick had similar career trajectories before finding the right fit in their current jobs.

With a hopefully healthy Andrew Luck in 2018, the Colts want to be competing for Super Bowls immediately during the prime of their franchise quarterback’s career.

Jim Schwartz is not the sexiest name on the coaching carousel, but it’s entirely possible that he would be the perfect candidate in Indianapolis.

Here are some other coaching candidates the Colts could take a look at this offseason:

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