Jordan Hicks 'excited for another opportunity' to play for Jim Schwartz with Browns

There was a natural draw to the Browns for linebacker Jordan Hicks.

Hicks' nine-year career before signing this week with Cleveland had taken him to enough places — Philadelphia, Arizona, Minnesota — to develop a lengthy list of former teammates. Some of those former teammates, though, will now be teammates again, such as Za'Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson.

One of the biggest draws was a chance to reunite with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was Hicks' defensive coordinator during his final three season with the Eagles from 2016-18.

"Obviously, we had the success through our run there, but one thing about Jim and his defense is it's concise," Hicks said during an introductory Zoom call Thursday. "You know your role and you know how offenses are going to attack you.

"I just mentioned earlier that when I look back on my career and I look back at the times and the years that I played as clear-minded as I ever have, it was with him, it was those years with Coach Schwartz. And I think that's just due to the preparation that he brings, the understanding of the defense, the understanding of how offenses are going to try to scheme you up and then just executing at a high level."

Hicks, 31, and the Browns reached an agreement om a two-year deal on the first evening of the free-agent negotiating period Monday. It was seen at the time as a potential counter to the losses that night of two of the Browns' starting linebackers — Anthony Walker Jr. (to the Miami Dolphins) and Sione Takitaki (to the New England Patriots).

That is true in a specific nuts-and-bolts football sense. It's also true in the intangible sense, where Hicks steps into the locker room with eyes on taking on the veteran leadership role those two held for several seasons.

"I mean, it's kind of been my role since I was in Philly as kind of more of a young guy, still took on that leadership role," Hicks said. "But I don't force anything. I try to just be who I am. I try to be authentic, I try to be genuine and I'm here to help.

"I'm here to aid in other people's maturation and grow all our IQs and our ability to play together. And I think that when you have 11 guys on a defense who are playing with that type of mindset to serve and to help each other to grow, to excel, I think that's what makes certain defenses special."

The Browns defense was, at least in the regular season, special a year ago in Schwartz's first season as its coordinator. They finished No. 1 in the league in multiple categories, fueled by a ferocious pass rush led by eventual NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and Smith, his counterpart on the other defensive end spot.

Hicks and the Vikings didn't play the Browns last season, but he wasn't unaware of what was going on, in part because of following his former coach and teammates — a coach and some teammates with whom Hicks has now reunited in Cleveland.

"I mean, it's awesome to see, right?" Hicks said. "Because you always follow the guys you played for, you follow teammates, you follow teams, you follow defensive coordinators and coaches. So to see him come back and have the type of success that he has is not surprising. Knowing who he is, knowing what he brings energy-wise, knowing what he brings mentally to a team, to a culture, and understanding his part in how to build a group of guys to achieve something special, so not surprising.

"But, again, excited to be a part of it, excited for another opportunity to play for him and have a shot."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jordan Hicks 'excited' to play for Jim Schwartz again with Browns