Despite claims he was retiring for at least a season, former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is returning to football. According to Brent Dougherty, Schwartz will be heading to the Tennessee Titans to be a senior defensive assistant for the reigning AFC South champs.

This hiring is a homecoming for Schwartz, previously being the Titans’ DC from 2001 through 2008. His tenure in Tennessee was both his first and longest as a defensive coordinator in the NFL. Following the end of the 2020 season, Schwartz stepped down as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, a position he held for four seasons. He has since been succeeded by former Colts assistant Jonathan Gannon.

Many initially expected that Schwartz would be taking a year off from coaching following his departure from Philadelphia but that vacation has been cut short. Tennessee is likely looking to surround young defensive coordinator Shane Bowen with some experience in his first year with the Titans. Following this announcement, Doug Pederson is the only significant Eagles coach from 2020 left without a job. Both Dave Fipp and Duce Staley joined the Detroit Lions and Press Taylor is reunited with Carson Wentz in Indianapolis.

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