Former Jets assistant and Robert Saleh protege lands Browns DC job

After the Jim Schwartz debacle, the Cleveland Browns have landed on former New York Jets assistant coach Mike Rutenberg as their new defensive coordinator, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Rutenberg, the latest in a long line of former Jets coaches this offseason getting a second chance, including his mentor Robert Saleh, Mike LaFleur, Nathaniel Hackett, and Adam Gase, gets his first opportunity as a defensive coordinator.

The former Jets linebackers coach from 2021 to 2024 served as Jeff Ulbrich's defensive pass game coordinator this past season with the Atlanta Falcons, following the former Jets DC down to Atlanta after New York cleaned house last year.

Former Jets coach Mike Rutenberg hired as Browns defensive coordinator

Rutenberg and Saleh first crossed paths during their shared tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Saleh was coaching the linebackers, while Rutenberg was cutting his teeth as an assistant defensive backs coach from 2014 to 2016.

After Saleh landed the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator job under Kyle Shanahan, Rutenberg stuck around in Jacksonville, working as a general defensive assistant and assistant linebackers coach until 2020, when Saleh brought him to the 49ers as a pass game specialist.

When Saleh was hired as the Jets' head coach in 2021, he brought Rutenberg along with him, making him New York's linebacker coach. SNY's Connor Hughes shared that Saleh believed Rutenberg would one day become 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."

Connor Hughes

Hughes also credited Rutenberg with the development of linebackers Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood, the former of whom turned into an All-Pro under his tutelage.

Sherwood never received any accolades, but Rutenberg still developed a college safety into a pro linebacker, earning him a three-year, $45 million extension last offseason.

After one more year serving as an assistant in Atlanta, Rutenberg now gets his shot as a defensive coordinator under new Browns head coach Todd Monken. Having the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett should certainly help him acclimate to his new role.