Carson Schwesinger gets chance to connect with HOFer Luke Kuechly

BEREA ― Luke Kuechly was the player Carson Schwesinger emulated growing up. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 member has been the mold the Browns linebacker was so often been compared to during his Defensive Rookie of the Year season in 2025.

Schwesinger and Kuechly had never formally connected in any way, despite the number of people connecting the two to each other. That is, until Browns defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg stepped in rectify that situation.

“Rudy thought it would be cool to get us in contact,” Schwesinger said on Day 3 of Browns training camp July 31. “He was great and said whatever I needed, any questions. So able to talk to him about whether it’s preparation or just how to watch film and what he’d do throughout the week to prepare or what he’d do in OTAs, just things like that. And so it’s great to have that resource.”

The two linebackers talked via FaceTime during the offseason. There could be an opening, if someone were interested in making it happen, to have an in-person meeting next week with Kuechly in Canton for the Hall of Fame enshrinement festivites.

Schwesinger didn’t indicate that such a potential meeting was on the horizon, or even something he had considered. However, the first conversation certainly left what he acknowledged was a surreal feeling afterwards.

“Yeah, I guess. Yeah,” Schwesinger said. “Obviously, like I said, it’s someone you look up to. And so just being able to have that resource is awesome. And I’m looking forward to, especially as the season progresses, hopefully being able to use that.”

The piece of Kuechly’s game which Schwesinger pointed to as something he modeled for himself was the preparation he put into everything. That’s particularly true when it comes to the ability to study an opponent and know what they’re going to be doing pre-snap.

That was always something Schwesinger’s coaches, from his UCLA days all the way to now with the Browns, pointed out as one of his superpowers.

“Well, I think that’s one of the things, but I wouldn’t just say it was preparation,” Schwesinger said. “I mean, when you watch him on the field, obviously the preparation was a big step, but he still had the athletic ability to do whatever it took. And I think the effort, I mean, you watch him play, a lot of his tackles aren’t made in the box. They’re from running downfield and making plays downfield.”

The comparisons have only grown with Schwesinger to the Hall of Famer since the former replicated Kuechly’s achievement of being the top defensive rookie in the league, albeit 13 years apart. If there was another connection, neither were a Pro Bowler or voted All-Pro as a rookie either.

There’s a variety of ways to try and compared the two rookie seasons statistically. However, Browns coach Todd Monken, respectfully, wanted to not let to much of that comparison seep in just yet.

It’s not because Monken doesn’t believe in Schwesinger. It’s because of the level of respect he gained from going against Kuechly while he was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator from 2016-18.

“Well, I mean, first off, let’s pull back a little bit on Luke Kuechly, who to me is one of the all time greats,” Monken said. “We were in Tampa going against that guy. And first of all, I love Carson. Please, that is not on him, but that dude, wow, calling out somebody he’ll get there. I know Carson will get there. But Luke Kuechly was a complete pain in the a**. I mean, calling out what you’re doing and your checks and he’s listening to the audio and he’s pointing out they’re going right, and most of the time he’s right.

“Every now and then he’s wrong, but that guy was, I mean, fantastic, and Carson is headed that direction. He’s not as vocal right now because some of the being sure of himself in terms of what we’re doing. But in terms of how he plays, how he attacks the game and he’s all over the field, very similar.”

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. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Carson Schwesinger gets chance to connect with HOFer Luke Kuechly