Falcons assistant hired as Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator
· Yahoo Sports
The Cleveland Browns are hiring Atlanta Falcons defensive pass-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as their defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Rutenberg joined Atlanta's staff in 2025 after spending four seasons as the linebackers coach for the New York Jets (2021-2024).
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The Browns have been looking for a replacement for long-time defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who stepped down after the team passed him over for the head coaching vacancy. Despite their poor record in recent seasons, the Browns have some talented pieces on defense.
Cleveland took home the Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards at the 2026 NFL Honors. Defensive end Myles Garrett set the NFL single-season sacks record with 23 total, while linebacker Carson Schwesinger led all rookies with 146 total tackles.
Rutenberg spent seven seasons working for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-2019) in different roles. He joined the team as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2013 and later took over as the assistant linebackers coach from 2018 to 2019.
In 2020, Rutenberg took a one-year pit stop in San Francisco, serving as a defensive pass-game specialist before linking up with Ulbrich in New York. After Ulbrich was fired by the Jets in 2024, he took over as the Falcons defensive coordinator and brought Rutenberg along as his pass-game coordinator.
In other Falcons coaching news, the team has hired former Wisconsin wide receivers coach Jordan Reid as their new assistant quarterbacks coach.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Mike Rutenberg named Browns defensive coordinator