Reports: Browns hire Falcons assistant Mike Rutenberg as DC

Field Level Media|published: Mon 16th February, 14:57 2026

Oct 20, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Jets linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg gestures on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Browns have hired Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as their new defensive coordinator, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

It'll be big shoes for Rutenberg to fill in his first coordinator position under new Browns head coach Todd Monken. He replaces Jim Schwartz, who was the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023 as Cleveland's defensive coordinator but resigned this offseason when he was passed over to be the Browns' next head coach.

Rutenberg, 44, has spent the last 13 seasons in the NFL, working his way up with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-19), San Francisco 49ers (2020), New York Jets (2021-24) and Falcons.

Atlanta had 16 interceptions in Rutenberg's lone season as pass game coordinator, tied for sixth-most in the league and the team's most in a season since 2014.

--Field Level Media

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