What Do 2023 Browns Have That 2017 Super Bowl Champion Eagles Did?

Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz sees something in this Browns team that he also saw as defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles five years ago

It takes more than X's and O's to win the Super Bowl.Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz knows that better than anyone. 

The 57-year-old experienced the glory of winning a Lombardi Trophy a mere six years ago serving in the same role for Doug Pederson and 2017 Philadelphia Eagles. Like the Browns, Philly had to overcome an injury to starting quarterback Carson Wentz and turn things over to veteran Nick Foles, who led them on an unforgettable march to the franchise's first Super Bowl title. Under Schwartz guidance, that team also rode one of the best defenses in football. 

There are similar circumstances surrounding the 2023 Cleveland Browns, who are bracing for a postseason journey of their own. As Schwartz pointed out on Wednesday though, ahead of a Wild Card machup with the Houston Texans, the comparisons don't stop there.

"A couple days ago I was telling the team some of the similarities that I saw between our team in 2017 with the Eagles, and probably the biggest one is how much the players enjoy each other," Schwartz said. "They genuinely root for each other and genuinely like to be together at practice. And that continuity has taken us through a lot of tough times this year. I mean, we've had some things put in our way over the course of the year, but you don't see the frustration show on the field. You don't see guys throwing helmets, or yelling at each other, or you don't see the jealousy, or you don't see finger pointing."

That togetherness has been references numerous times throughout this season by players and coaches alike. It's also been evidenced by the the sheer number of players on the team's injured reserve, who have tried to remain close to the team during this run to the playoffs. 

Veteran safety, Rodney McLeod – who ironically was with Schwartz for that Super Bowl run in Philadelphia – may top that list. Despite being sideline with a bicep injury since Week 12, he's remained in Cleveland to rehab and shown up plenty to the team facility. On Monday night he was part of a group of players and coaches with Super Bowl experience who addressed the entire team for a pre-playoff pep-talk.

"He's found a way to contribute even without being on the field," Schwartz said of McLeod. "I could be here for a month talking about the respect that I have for Rodney. He wore a helmet for me, two different teams. Another guy that I just totally respect and admire, and it's just right in his character that when he was injured that he's still going to find a way to contribute. 

Oct 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod (26) celebrates after San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody (4) missed a field goal during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

"Anthony Walker has done the same thing for us and he had to miss some time, but he's back in our building now. All those guys have stayed close. Maurice Hurst has stayed close to all veteran guys and they realize that their contribution to the team doesn't end with the game field or the practice field. They've been able to find a way to contribute and our success has a lot to do with that."

It takes a special kind of group to share the level of togetherness Schwartz describes. That's not lost on the players, who throughout the season have praised Brown's brass – from Andrew Berry on down – for their ability to find guys who were simply just good fits for the collection of personalities on the team.

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As Schwartz notes, that camaraderie is best done naturally, which has been the case for Cleveland this year. And while there may be no tangible way to quantify how much that means when attempting to analyze a matchup of two playoff teams, the Browns have been proving just how much it matters throughout the entire season.

"Our team genuinely has fun together," Schwartz said. "You can do some things as coach to try to push them in that direction, but it has to come organically from them. And that's been developing over the course of the whole season. I think we're stronger now as a result of some of the tough times we've been through and we're going to have to rely on some of that resilience as we go through this playoff season."