Carson Schwesinger, an undrafted rookie linebacker on the Cleveland Browns, is turning heads across the league. He just notched his sixth straight game with double-digit tackles! This accomplishment ties him with Luke Kuechly for the longest such streak by a rookie since 2000. Schwesinger’s performance has been stunning and it looks to make him a mainstay in the NFL. His progression from discovery as an afterthought walk-on to today’s rookie-in-waiting star is as inspiring as it gets.
Early life and education Schwesinger grew up in Moonpark, California. He’d matured during the era of Luke Kuechly, who took home the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year prize in 2012. He had played his first two years of high school football at Santa Clarita High School. When the program transitioned from 11-man to eight-man football, Schwesinger decided to take a step. Then he switched to Oaks Christian for his junior and senior seasons. At Oaks Christian, he truly was used all over the field as a safety and tight end.
Though highly recruited, Schwesinger slipped through the cracks as he walked-on to UCLA. He redshirted his first year in 2021 and put in the work to get a scholarship before the 2022 season. His redshirt junior season in 2024, he moved from safety to linebacker and started ten games. His breakout season earned him first-team All-American honors and recognition as a finalist for the hugely prestigious Butkus Award.
On the cusp of securing his future in the NFL, Schwesinger decided to forego his remaining eligibility and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. Cleveland Browns third round pick Martin Emerson Jr. celebrates with friends and family after being chosen with the No. 33 pick, starting Day 2 of the draft. Since joining the team, Schwesinger has played an astounding 96% of the Browns’ defensive snaps, rarely leaving the field as the team’s defensive playcaller.
With Schwesinger’s play, love for middleman Shearer on defense. He leads all rookies with an impressive 11.5 tackles and tackle-for-loss. He’s tied for second among all first-year players, with two interceptions. Of course, his history-making performance pulled in prime-time ratings. He won the honor of Week 11 Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week after registering 11 tackles and an interception against the Baltimore Ravens.
“Even if the initial goal wasn’t for me to be the green dot [defensive playcaller], that was my personal goal,” – Carson Schwesinger
His determination and competitive spirit are evident as Schwesinger embraces the role he’s been given on the team. “I want to be on the field as much as I possibly can, for sure,” he stated. If they wanted me to play offense, I’m just gonna go play offense, you feel me? Then when that’s the attitude, it’s never intimidating to be put in a position because as a competitor, I always want to be put in those hard positions.
His coach, Jim Schwartz, lauded Schwesinger’s senior leadership and command of the field as a quarterback. “He’s been right in the middle of it, and it’s been fun to watch because not only does he do all that stuff well, but he has great command. He’s every bit as good a leader for us,” Schwartz said. To me, he’s our playcaller, and he very rarely makes a mistake. When he does err, it never happens again and he works so hard on the field that he’s wildly productive.
The esteem that Schwesinger holds among his teammates is palpable. Safety Grant Delpit noted early on in training camp that they all recognized Schwesinger’s potential: “I ain’t going to lie. I saw it early at camp. I think everybody saw it, and we knew that he was going to be around the ball a lot.”
Schwesinger chalks up most of his success to his work ethic and upbringing. “A lot of it just comes down to work ethic,” he explained. He recalled advice from his father: “What my dad preached to me my whole life was if you’re willing to go out there and outwork people and put the work in so that you’re prepared for any opportunities, you’re going to be able to make the most of it.”
Professionals gasp at the field mastery of Schwesinger, attributing its comparison to that of the all time great linebacker Ray Lewis. They testify to the rapid adjustment he’s made to this high-pressure position. Schwartz noted, “I was with Ray Lewis his first three years in the NFL… but the command that Carson has now in a lot of respects took Ray’s third year in the league.”
Whether on the field or in the classroom, Carson Schwesinger continues to shine. His journey continues to inspire aspiring athletes everywhere. From walking on at UCLA to becoming a standout player for the Browns, Schwesinger’s story underscores the importance of hard work and perseverance in achieving one’s dreams.
“This guy is the fancy car right here, but [Schwesinger] is that old Chevy.” – Analyst
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