Browns To Hire Mike Rutenberg As DC

The Browns were known to be nearing a hire for their defensive coordinator vacancy. One of the finalists will indeed be heading to Cleveland.

Mike Rutenberg is the Browns’ choice, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Not long after team and staffer interviewed, an agreement has been reached. Rutenberg’s tenure with the Falcons will now come to an end.

Retaining Jim Schwartz was a key priority for the Browns leading up to their head coaching search. The highly-regarded DC was in the running to be promoted to the role, but Todd Monken was hired instead. Over a brief period, Schwartz’s future was unclear but as many predicted he wound up resigning.

That decision left Cleveland in need of a new defensive coordinator for the first time since Schwartz arrived in 2023. A list of candidates quickly emerged, and while there were staffers who withdrew the team was able to generate a group of finalists late in the hiring cycle. Rutenberg was one of three candidates firmly in the mix, and his attention will now turn to the first coordinator gig of his coaching career.

The 44-year-old has worked in a number of capacities at the college and NFL levels. Rutenberg has experience as a defensive backs coach and a pass-game coordinator in both regards, but he has also worked with linebackers in the pros. He served as the Jets’ LBs coach prior to following Jeff Ulbrich from New York to Atlanta last offseason. After a one-year Falcons stint, Rutenberg will take charge of a defense which ranked fourth in yards allowed in 2025.

The Browns have the reigning Defensive Player of the Year (Myles Garrett) along with 2025’s Defensive Rookie of the Year (Carson Schwesinger) in the fold. Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward and others round out what should be a strong unit once again in 2026. Rutenberg will certainly face high expectations upon arrival in Cleveland as the team aims to take needed steps forward on offense under Monken and Co.

Given today’s news, only one defensive coordinator opening remains around the NFL. The Patriots have a vacancy, although they are widely expected to continue with Zak Kuhr as their defensive play-caller after he handled those responsibilities in 2025. Provided Kuhr’s status is confirmed in the near future, it will bring an end to the DC hiring cycle for 2026.

Here is a final look at the Browns’ search:

2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

The 2026 head coaching carousel has now seen 10 jobs open since the start of the offseason, as the Bills have fired Sean McDermott. HC firings generally lead to coordinator changes, and several other teams have proceeded with OC or DC moves to start their offseasons. Here are the current OC and DC searches transpiring. As the remaining HC searches conclude, more coordinator searches will be added to this list.

Updated 2-15-26 (10:15pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Drew Petzing)

  • Nathaniel Hackett, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Hired

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Zac Robinson)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Todd Monken)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Joe Brady)

  • Pete Carmichael Jr., senior offensive assistant (Broncos): Hire expected

Chicago Bears (Out: Declan Doyle)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Tommy Rees)

Denver Broncos (Out: Joe Lombardi)

  • Ronald Curry, quarterbacks coach (Bills): Interviewed
  • Brian Johnson, pass-game coordinator (Commanders): Interviewed
  • Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Promoted

Detroit Lions (Out: John Morton)

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)

  • Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Bears): Rehired

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Greg Olson)

  • Andrew Janocko, quarterbacks coach (Seahawks): Hired
  • Frisman Jackson, wide receivers coach (Seahawks): To interview

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Greg Roman)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Frank Smith)

New York Giants (Out: Mike Kafka)

New York Jets (Out: Tanner Engstrand)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kevin Patullo)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Arthur Smith)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Klint Kubiak)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Josh Grizzard)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Nick Holz)

Washington Commanders (Out: Kliff Kingsbury)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Zach Orr)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Bobby Babich)

  • Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired

Cleveland Browns (Out: Jim Schwartz)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Matt Eberflus)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Jeff Hafley)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Patrick Graham)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Jesse Minter)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Anthony Weaver)

  • Sean Duggan, former linebackers coach (Packers): Hired
  • Clint Hurtt, defensive line coach (Eagles): Interviewed

New England Patriots (Out: Terrell Williams)

New York Giants (Out: Shane Bowen)

New York Jets (Out: Steve Wilks)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Teryl Austin)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Robert Saleh)

  • Gus Bradley, assistant head coach (49ers): Interviewed
  • Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Hired
  • Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Rumored candidate
  • Joe Woods, defensive backs coach (Raiders): Interviewed

Tennessee Titans (Out: Dennard Wilson)

Washington Commanders (Out: Joe Whitt)

Browns Close To Hiring D-Coordinator

6:28pm: Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com named three finalists for the defensive coordinator job in Cleveland today. Per Cabot, the two external candidates are both still in consideration, but of the two internal options, Banda will not be considered moving forward. In the next day or two, the Browns will be choosing between Undlin, Tarver, and Rutenberg for their defensive coordinator position.

11:52am: Nine days since Jim Schwartz resigned as their defensive coordinator, the Browns are getting closer to naming his replacement. Head coach Todd Monken‘s decision could come “within the next day or two,” Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports.

Monken has spent this weekend conducting in-person interviews with candidates, according to Cabot. Two finalists, Texans defensive pass-game coordinator Cory Undlin and Falcons PGC Mike Rutenberg, have met with Monken.

Browns linebackers coach Jason Tarver and safeties coach Ephraim Banda are also still in contention. Thanks in part to his defensive coordinator experience with the Raiders from 2012-14, Tarver is the “stronger internal candidate” than Banda, Cabot writes.

Banda was the co-defensive coordinator at Miami from 2019-20 and the DC at Utah State between 2021-22, but he has spent all three of his NFL seasons coaching safeties. If professional coordinator experience is preferred, Banda and Rutenberg may fall behind Undlin (the Lions’ DC in 2020) and Tarver in the pecking order.

Rutenberg has combined for 15 years in the league with Washington, Jacksonville, San Francisco, the Jets and Atlanta, but the longtime Robert Saleh colleague has never run a defense. He has also never been on the same staff as Schwartz. Considering Monken intends to keep Schwartz’s system in place, that may be important.

With Schwartz then the Eagles’ DC, Undlin spent four years under him (2016-19) as their defensive backs coach. They won a Super Bowl together in 2017. In addition to his experience with Schwartz, Undlin has also worked with Monken. The two overlapped as Jaguars assistants from 2009-10.

Tarver and Banda helped Schwartz’s defense finish 2025 fourth in scoring and 14th in yards. With a record 23 sacks, Myles Garrett steamrolled his way to Defensive Player of the Year honors. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger, Tarver’s pupil, was a tackling machine (156) who chipped in 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. That was enough for the second-rounder from UCLA to collect the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

The Browns have a lot of problems to fix on the offensive side of the ball, but Garrett and Schwesinger help make their DC job an attractive one. With the Browns in the final stages of their search, here’s a refresher on the other names they’ve considered:

Giants’ Charlie Bullen Withdraws From DC Searches, Signs Extension

Despite interest from the Browns and Cardinals, Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen will stay put in 2026, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Bullen has withdrawn from defensive coordinator searches in favor of a contract extension with the Giants. He’ll also add run-game coordinator to his duties.

Next season will be the third in New York for Bullen, who joined then-head coach Brian Daboll‘s staff in 2024. Two weeks after the Giants fired Daboll last November, interim head coach Mike Kafka canned defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Kafka handed interim DC responsibilities to Bullen for the rest of the year.

Although the Giants’ defense improved on Bullen’s watch, his future had hung in the air since the Giants brought in new head coach John Harbaugh in mid-January. Harbaugh went on to pick Dennard Wilson as his defensive coordinator. However, evidenced by Bullen’s extension and promotion, the 41-year-old has clearly won over Harbaugh.

In his first season working with Harbaugh and Wilson, Bullen will play a key role in attempting to improve a bottom-of-the-barrel run defense. The 2025 Giants gave up 145.3 rushing yards per game, the worst mark in the NFC and the second-highest figure in the league. Only the Bengals (147.1) had a tougher time against opposing ground games.

Meanwhile, both Cleveland and Arizona have now seen two potential defensive coordinators withdraw from their searches. Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso elected to stay in Houston last week. Bullen is also content in his current role, leaving rookie Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur and first-year Browns HC Todd Monken to look elsewhere.

The Cardinals may already have their answer in incumbent D-coordinator Nick Rallis, whom they’re expected to retain. The next DC in Cleveland will have an especially difficult act to follow replacing the acclaimed Jim Schwartz, who resigned after the team didn’t promote him to head coach.

Steelers Willing To Wait On Aaron Rodgers Signing?

Months of SteelersAaron Rodgers rumors swirled during the 2025 offseason. The future Hall of Fame quarterback did not end up joining the Steelers until June, just before minicamp. Although a similar timeline is not expected, the Steelers appear willing to be patient once again.

Momentum appears to be building for Rodgers to play another season in Pittsburgh, and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes the team is willing to wait. Rodgers should be considered likely to re-sign with the AFC North team, the Pat McAfee Show’s Mark Kaboly tweets, and it is quite possible the Steelers run back the same QB room from 2025 despite making a coaching change.

[RELATED: Steelers Interested In Malik Willis?]

Rodgers is not believed to have made up his mind on playing a 22nd season, but SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora adds a reunion is likely here. Outside interest could be on tap, but this offseason could also present a Steelers-or-retirement call. One GM categorized the situation this way, via La Canfora, who adds the Browns are not believed to be interested.

It would be rather odd if the Steelers were fine waiting as long as they did last year, and any wait past the early stages of free agency would inject risk into the proceedings. The Steelers pivoted to Rodgers after a failed attempt to re-sign Justin Fields; they were among the Matthew Stafford trade suitors but bowed out early in that race. Rodgers ended up in Pittsburgh after his own failed effort to steer his way to Minnesota. The marriage of convenience brought middling QB play, though the Steelers did reach another wild-card game — which ended in a blowout loss to the Texans.

The Steelers do not expect it will take Rodgers as long to sign a contract this offseason, Florio adds, with Kaboly voicing an expectation the deal will be done within the next month. The 2026 league year begins March 11, with free agency unofficially (via the legal tampering period) starting March 9. The Steelers will need to have a good idea if Rodgers will play again and will need to know how interested he is in staying, or they will risk a major QB downgrade should they stand down and the aging great ends up retiring. Willis will likely have a new team by Day 1 of the tampering period, giving interested suitors a clear timeline.

After all, Rodgers said before last season he expected it to be his last. A late-December report, however, indicated the QB was waffling on retirement. The now-42-year-old passer joined the Steelers due in large part to Mike Tomlin‘s presence. While Art Rooney II left the door open for the QB’s return, he did indicate a coaching change could lead to this being a one-and-done partnership. But the Steelers then hired Mike McCarthy, who coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay. McCarthy said he would like Rodgers to return.

Pittsburgh’s willingness to wait opens the door for more Mason Rudolph and Will Howard offseason reps. Considering Rodgers’ history in McCarthy’s offense, the organization would likely be OK with Howard receiving more time after he missed several weeks of practice due to a broken hand. McCarthy said he is eager to work with the national championship-winning quarterback.

Rodgers coming back would point to the Steelers standing pat in this year’s draft, as Howard would serve as the team’s developmental option and Rudolph a veteran backup. The 2026 QB class is no longer viewed as deep, with next year’s group — a common offseason refrain — tabbed as superior. That could be Pittsburgh’s window to strike, with Rodgers giving the team one more year and 2026 giving McCarthy and Co. an idea of Howard’s potential.

Given Rodgers’ age and performance level since his 2021 MVP award, it is interesting he keeps generating interest on this level. It is worth wondering if the Vikings will show some interest this offseason. They shut that prospect down in 2025, committing to J.J. McCarthy. After Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s firing, Minnesota’s plans appear murkier. Some in the Vikes’ building wanted the team to give more consideration to signing Rodgers last year. Thus far in 2026, though, he has only been closely linked to the Steelers. But nearly a month remains before free agency. It is safe to say more Rodgers updates — ahead of a potential 22nd season — will emerge in that time.

Browns Request DC Interview With Cory Undlin

Cory Undlin has long been seen as a top defensive coordinator candidate for the Browns. He has already been in contact with the team, and an interview will soon take place.

A request has been submitted, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. Undlin is currently in place with the Texans as their defensive pass-game coordinator. He has not yet been connected to any other DC vacancies, but interest from Cleveland is understandable. The 54-year-old worked with the Browns from 2005-08. He held a number of titles over the course of that span, working on defense and special teams along the way.

Since his Cleveland departure, Undlin has seen time with the Jaguars, Broncos, Eagles, Lions, 49ers and Texans. He served as Detroit’s defensive coordinator in 2020, although the team ranked last in scoring and total defense that season. Undlin nevertheless has plenty of experience working with defensive backs at the NFL level, and he is a familiar option to pair with new head coach Todd Monken.

The two did not overlap during their respective stints in Cleveland. However, Monken and Undlin worked together in Jacksonville for two seasons. Undlin also has experience working under ex-Browns DC Jim Schwartz, having won a Super Bowl with him in Philadelphia. If the Browns intend to essentially duplicate Schwartz’s scheme in 2026, bringing in Undlin would be a reasonable approach.

Cabot also notes a defensive coordinator interview took place with Mike Rutenberg yesterday. The Falcons’ defensive pass-game coordinator is one of several staffers connected to the opening in Cleveland with Schwartz opting to resign upon not landing the head coaching gig. Here is an updated look at where things stand:

Jason Tarver, Joe Woods Among Names To Watch For Raiders DC Job

It sounds like Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak could be zeroing in on an offensive coordinator, but the status on the defensive side of the ball isn’t as clear. While Jim Schwartz was initially mentioned as a preferred option for the DC job, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the veteran coach will sit out the 2026 campaign.

[RELATED: Andrew Janocko Favorite To Become Raiders’ OC?]

If the Raiders aren’t able to recruit Schwartz to Las Vegas, Kubiak will have to look elsewhere for a defensive leader. Albert Breer of SI.com provides several names that could emerge as candidates for the gig, including Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, Seahawks pass-game coordinator Karl Scott, Browns linebackers coach Jason Tarver, and Raiders defensive backs coach Joe Woods.

Cullen would bring plenty of experience to Las Vegas, as the 58-year-old has been coaching since the early 1990s. He got his first NFL gig with the Lions in 2006 and has spent most of his professional coaching career as a defensive line coach. Following a five-year stint in that role with the Ravens, he got a chance as a defensive coordinator with the Jaguars in 2021. However, with Urban Meyer failing to make it through one full season and the organization seeking a fresh start in 2022, Cullen wasn’t retained. He quickly caught on with the Chiefs, where he’s earned a pair of Super Bowl rings in four seasons.

While Kubiak is eyeing some offensive coaches from his old staff, Scott is the only current member of Seattle’s defensive staff that’s been connected to a Raiders gig. The 40-year-old spent years coaching defensive backs in college before getting hired by the Vikings for that same role in 2021. He was recruited to Seattle in 2022, and he stuck on the staff after the team switched from Pete Carroll to Mike Macdonald. During his time with the Seahawks, Scott has been credited with the development of Devon Witherspoon, Coby Bryant, and Riq Woolen.

A Tarver hire would represent a bit of a homecoming for the coach, as he actually served as the Raiders defensive coordinator under Dennis Allen between 2012 and 2014. He stuck through multiple head coaches in San Francisco, where he served as the 49ers linebackers coach, and he later had a two-year stint as Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator. Most recently, the 51-year-old has served as the Browns linebackers coach, a job he’s held since the 2020 season.

Woods joined the Raiders ahead of the 2025 season as their pass-game coordinator, and Breer notes that the coach is expected to stick with the organization despite the change in leadership. The veteran coach has had multiple stints as defensive coordinator in stops with the Broncos, Browns, and Saints. While Woods guided several of his units to top-10 showings, the majority of his defenses were middle-of-the-road. A new coaching staff spelled the end of his tenure in New Orleans, although he was already on thin ice following a 2024 season where the Saints ranked 30th in yards allowed.

While the Raiders showed interest in Texans secondary coach Dino Vasso, the 38-year-old won’t be heading to Las Vegas. Vasso inked a new deal to stick on Houston’s coaching staff, taking him out of contention for the promotion.

Browns, Dolphins, Steelers Interested In QB Malik Willis?

The Packers expect to see Malik Willis depart in free agency next month. His destination will remain unclear for the time being, but a list of suitors to watch has emerged.

At least four teams are regarded as likely to make an offer in Willis’ case, SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora reports. The Steelers are among them. La Canfora adds the Browns and Dolphins are viewed as being “particularly keen” in Willis’ case, making them logical candidates to make a free agent push.

Willis has spent the past two years as a backup to Jordan Love in Green Bay. During limited action filling in as the team’s starter, the former third-round pick has flashed enough potential to generate notable interest. The 2026 quarterback market is not on track to include many options seen as containing much in the way of upside. Willis represents an exception, and a bidding war could land him a starting gig ahead of next season.

The Dolphins have a number of ex-Packers staffers in the fold. That includes new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. The latter holds Willis in high regard, per the report. That would make a notable Dolphins pursuit unsurprising, although the team also has the matter of Tua Tagovailoa and his contract to attend to. Trading Tagovailoa will be a goal for Miami this offseason, and retaining money to facilitate a deal may be on the table. A cost-effective replacement – especially one familiar to the Dolphins’ new decision-makers – would of course be attractive.

Pittsburgh inked Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal last offseason. Connections between the two parties resulted in a long-running period before an agreement was ultimately reached. Moving on to Will Howard or another option could take place in 2026, but the Steelers expressed a willingness to retain Rodgers even before Mike McCarthy was hired as head coach. A QB-HC reunion dating back to the time both shared in Green Bay remains a distinct possibility.

An agent who spoke with La Canfora pointed to Cleveland as the team which could end up in pole position to land Willis. 2025 draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are still in the fold after each saw time atop the depth chart as rookies. Deshaun Watson is likely to be healthy by the start of next season, and he could compete for the QB1 gig. More competition could nevertheless be brought in, something which could point the Browns in the direction of a Willis signing.

One GM predicted Willis, 26, will ultimately land a contract similar to the one Justin Fields signed last spring. Upon joining the Jets, Fields secured a two-year, $40MM pact with $30MM guaranteed. Any pact close to that one would represent a major raise relative to Willis’ rookie contract. Especially if multiple teams find themselves competing for his services, a multi-year contract could soon be in store.

Browns Hire Byron Storer As Special Teams Coordinator

New Browns head coach Todd Monken has found a special teams coordinator for his first staff. The Browns will hire Packers assistant ST coordinator Byron Storer, Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team first reported. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com has since confirmed the news.

This will be Storer’s first time in charge of a special teams unit, though he has garnered extensive experience as an assistant. Before arriving in Green Bay in 2022, the former Buccaneers fullback helped coach ST groups with the Bucs (2010-11), Chargers (2012; he was also their assistant linebackers coach in ’13) and Raiders (2018-21).

Storer played for and worked for longtime ST coordinator Rich Bisaccia in Tampa Bay. After spending the past eight seasons assisting Bisaccia with the Raiders and Packers, Storer will take over in Cleveland for Bubba Ventrone. The Browns lost Ventrone to the Rams in late January.

In other staff news, the Browns are retaining running backs coach Duce Staley, per Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN. Assistant offensive line coach Sanders Davis will also return (via Cabot).

Staley’s known for his solid career as an Eagles and Steelers running back from 1997-2006, but the three-time 1,000-yard rusher has spent more time as a coach since he started as an assistant in Philadelphia in 2011. Next season will be Staley’s third with the Browns, while Davis will enter his second year with the team. Davis will work for new O-line coach George Warhop in 2026.

Raiders Officially Name Klint Kubiak Head Coach

The Raiders have made it official. The team announced this evening that they’ve named Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their new head coach.

Kubiak is now the 25th head coach in franchise history, and he’s the sixth since the team moved to Las Vegas. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kubiak will receive a five-year contract from the Raiders.

Of course, this move doesn’t come as any surprise. The franchise seemed to be leaning towards Kubiak last week, and the 38-year-old was reportedly set to negotiate a deal with the organization. Then, Kubiak all but confirmed the news last night following the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win when he revealed that he’d indeed be taking his talents from Seattle to Las Vegas.

The son of Gary Kubiak, Klint has bounced around the NFL during his coaching career, including stops with the Vikings, Saints, and Seahawks as the offensive coordinator. It was that latter stop that made him seem destined to take the next step of his career, as Kubiak was the most popular name during this year’s hiring cycle. The 38-year-old ultimately interviewed for seven of the 10 HC vacancies, and he landed one of those opportunities in Las Vegas.

After helping guide Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense to a surprising top-10 showing this past season, Kubiak will now be tasked with turning around a franchise that’s only made the postseason twice in the past 23 years. Besides landing on their new head coach, the Raiders are also anticipated to add a new franchise QB this offseason, as the team is expected to select reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first-overall pick.

Before Kubiak can focus on the on-field product, he’ll have to quickly build out his staff. Considering his inexperience as a head coach, Jason La Canfora of Sportsboom.com writes that the Raiders are expected to prioritize experience as they look to fill out the coaching staff. One name in particular that could stand out is Jim Schwartz, who hastily left the Browns after losing out on their head coaching job.

Per La Canfora, the veteran defensive coach has several fans in the building. This includes Kubiak, and the offensive-minded head coach presumably wouldn’t meddle in Schwartz’s defensive approach. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is also a “strong supporter” of the coach. Since the Raiders have traditionally shown a willingness to “spend heavily” on assistants, there’s an expectation among league sources that Schwartz will ultimately land in Las Vegas.

There would remain one hurdle in the Raiders’ pursuit, however: the Browns have Schwartz under contract through 2026, meaning Las Vegas would have to negotiate with the AFC foe to lure the coach. As Albert Breer of SI.com notes, this has led some to believe that Schwartz could simply sit out the upcoming campaign, and there’s some belief that the coach may be simply waiting for the Eagles DC job to open up.

On the offensive side of the ball, Seahawks quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is a “natural candidate,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Prior to his success with Darnold, Janocko was credited with getting some of the best career showings from the likes of Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields, and Derek Carr. It’s no coincidence that the coach has also joined Kubiak in multiple stops, making him an obvious candidate for the gig. Of course, there’s also a chance the Seahawks simply look to promote him to their newfound OC vacancy.

Speaking of the Seahawks, Fowler notes that in-house options like offensive passing game coordinator Jake Peetz and running backs coach Justin Outten could also be options to replace Kubiak, as could Lions senior assistant Mike Kafka.

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