Browns HC Todd Monken interviewing to steal from Kevin Stefanski’s Falcons staff

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 | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Oh, how the turntables... turn. In the NFL, everything tends to be about relationships, good or bad, in decision-making. That is especially true with coaching staffs, as new head coaches like to bring in coaches they are familiar with. We have seen that with new Cleveland Browns HC Todd Monken on the offensive side of the ball, a number of former Baltimore Ravens are expected to join him.

We also saw that with former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski, who has started to get the old Cleveland band back together with the Atlanta Falcons.

As Monken looks to replace Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator, the new Browns head coach might look to poach Mike Rutenberg from the former Cleveland head coach's staff in Atlanta:

Browns have requested to interview Falcons defensive pass-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg for their defensive coordinator job, per source.

Rutenberg was the No. 2 for the Tennessee DC job that went to Gus Bradley. https://t.co/YFE8cvKKUP

- Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 9, 2026

When Stefanski took over the Falcons, he retained DC Jeff Ulbrich and his staff, including Rutenberg.

Rutenberg joined Atlanta last season after four years with the New York Jets as their linebackers coach under Robert Saleh. Rutenberg was with the Jacksonville Jaguars for seven seasons, then the San Francisco 49ers for a year prior to his time with the Jets. After one year coaching under Joe Gibbs in Washington, Ruttenberg spent seven seasons coaching at the college level, including at UCLA, New Mexico State, and San Diego (his lone time as a coordinator).

After interviewing three candidates who were considered early favorites for the defensive coordinator job, Monken has started to cast a wide net of other candidates for the position. With the NFL combine a few weeks away, Monken is working quickly to get Schwartz replaced.