Mike Rutenberg joins the Browns as defensive coordinator after spending one season with the Falcons as the defensive pass game coordinator and brings 14 years of experience coaching in the NFL.

• Named the Browns defensive coordinator in 2026 after spending the 2025 season as the Falcons defensive pass game coordinator.
• Last season with Atlanta, Rutenberg helped develop third round pick S Xavier Watts, who led all rookies and tied for second among all NFL players with five interceptions. Atlanta's safety duo of Watts (five) and Jessie Bates III (three) tied for the second-most interceptions by any safety duo across the league (eight).
• Spent four seasons (2021-24) as linebackers coach for the New York Jets. The Jets were the only defense in the league to rank in the top five of total defense each season from 2022-24, finishing fourth in 2022 and third in both 2023 and 2024. Over the three seasons combined, the Jets defense ranked first in total defense (305.7 yards per game), first in passing defense (183.5 yards per game), fifth in tackles for loss (269), eighth in sacks (136) and ninth in scoring defense (21.1 points per game). In 2023, LB Quincy Williams earned first team All-Pro honors as he became one of six players since 2015 to record at least 100 tackles (139), 10 tackles for loss (15) and 10 passes defensed (10) in a season. LB Jermaine Johnson II was selected to his first career Pro Bowl. In 2022, LB C.J. Mosley recorded his third consecutive season with at least 150 tackles en route to a Pro Bowl selection and second team All-Pro honors. From 2021-22, Mosley and Williams became the only linebacker duo to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons.
• With the Jets coaching in the 2022 Senior Bowl, Rutenberg served as the National Team's defensive coordinator.
• Prior to joining the Jets, Rutenberg was the passing game specialist (2020) with the 49ers. In his only season with San Francisco, he helped the defense finish fourth in passing defense while also ranking in the top 10 in both opponent completion percentage and passer rating allowed.
• Spent seven seasons with the Jaguars, first as assistant defensive backs coach (2013-15), then as a defensive assistant (2016-17), before serving as assistant linebackers coach (2018-19).
• Coached college football for seven seasons, first with UCLA (2006-08) and then with New Mexico State (2009-12).
• Rutenberg entered the league with Washington, initially as a player personnel intern (2013), before working with Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs as assistant to the head coach.
• A native of Chevy Chase, Md., and graduate of Cornell, Rutenberg and his wife, Stacey, have a daughter, Laney, and a son, Luke.

Mike Rutenberg's Coaching Background:

2003                Washington Commanders, player personnel intern

2004-05          Washington Commanders, assistant to the head coach

2006-08          UCLA, graduate assistant – defense

2009-11           New Mexico State University, defensive backs coach

2012                 New Mexico State University, defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach

2013-15           Jacksonville Jaguars, assistant defensive backs coach

2016-17           Jacksonville Jaguars, defensive assistant

2018-19           Jacksonville Jaguars, assistant linebackers coach

2020                San Francisco 49ers, pass game specialist

2021-24           New York Jets, linebackers coach

2025                Atlanta Falcons, defensive pass game coordinator

2026-               Cleveland Browns, defensive coordinator