The Cleveland Browns finally hired their new defensive coordinator on Monday, bringing Atlanta Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg aboard as the replacement for Jim Schwartz.
It will be Rutenberg’s first time as a defensive coordinator, having cut his teeth as an assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets on his way to his first shot at calling a defense.
His two biggest mentors, Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh and Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, can’t help but rave about Rutenberg, and both coaches knew this day would come for the former Jets linebackers coach.
Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich rave about Browns DC Mike Rutenberg
SNY’s Connor Hughes shared an anecdote from Saleh back in his early days with the Jets, claiming that he knew Rutenberg would one day work his way up to becoming a defensive coordinator.
“I remember talking to Robert Saleh about his original young staff with the Jets when he first got hired. Rudy was one of the guys he pointed out. Said it wouldn’t be long before he was a DC,” wrote Hughes in a post on X.
As Jets linebackers coach, Rutenberg helped develop Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood into starting-caliber linebackers, even helping Williams become a first-team All-Pro in 2023.
When New York’s staff was cleaned out following the 2024 season, Ulbrich hired Rutenberg as his defensive pass game specialist in Atlanta, and The Athletic’s Josh Kendall shared a quote from Ulbrich talking about how good a defensive mind Rutenberg is.
“He’s one of the best teachers in this league. He understands the back end at a PhD-plus level. He’s a huge part of our success back there. Whether he gets a coordinator job this season or next, it’s inevitable. He’s too good a coach,” Ulbrich told reporters via Kendall.
Obviously, Rutenberg’s former Jets bosses knew what they had in their assistant coach, and it’s no shock he landed a defensive coordinator job.
We’ll see what he’s able to do with the Browns’ defense under first-time head coach Todd Monken.
