Four finalists were in contention for the job of Browns defensive coordinator heading into the weekend just concluded. Head coach Todd Monken on Feb. 16 chose the only one with no ties to Jim Schwartz. Mike Rutenberg, 44, beat out Cory Undlin, Jason Tarver and Ephraim Banda to replace Schwartz, who resigned on Feb. 5 after three years as Browns defensive coordinator because he was not hired as head coach. Rutenberg was the defensive pass game coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons in 2025. He served as linebackers coach for the Jets from 2021-24. Robert Saleh was the Jets’ head coach from 2021 until he was fired five games into 2024. Saleh was hired to be head coach of the Titans on Jan. 22, at which time the Browns were still hunting for a head coach. Saleh could have pried Rutenberg away from the Falcons to reconnect with his former linebackers coach as defensive coordinator for the Titans, but Saleh went with the more experienced Gus Bradley instead. Undlin, the pass game coordinator of the Houston Texans, was the Eagles’ defensive backs coach while Schwartz was the defensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2016-19. Tarver has coached the Browns’ linebackers since 2020. Banda has coached the Browns’ safeties since 2023. Naming either of them would have made for a smooth transition, but picking one over the other might also have caused friction similar to what happened when Schwartz was bypassed. Monken is on record saying he wants to retain the same system Schwartz installed when Schwartz arrived in 2023 as the replacement for Joe Woods. Schwartz used a four-man front and so did Saleh. Atlanta started four and sometimes five defensive linemen last season. The Falcons notched 57 sacks in 2025 — four more than the Browns — and intercepted 16 passes. The Browns picked off 11 passes. Monken and Rutenberg have their own coaching connection. Monken coached the Jaguars’ wide receivers from 2016-18. Rutenberg had the title of defensive assistant in Jacksonville in 2016 and 2017. He was the Jaguars’ assistant defensive backs coach in 2018. Hiring Rutenberg means Monken went outside the Browns to hire all three coordinators. Travis Switzer, 33, was the Ravens’ offensive run-game coordinator the last three years. Monken was the Ravens’ offensive coordinator at the same time. Switzer replaced Tommy Rees, who followed Kevin Stefanski to Atlanta to be the Falcons’ head coach. Stefanski was fired on Jan. 5 after six years as Browns head coach. Byron Storer, previously the assistant special teams coordinator for the Packers, is the Browns’ new special teams coordinator. Storer replaced Bubba Ventrone. Ventrone is the Rams’ special teams coordinator ...read more read less