Todd Monken has made the big hire to replace Jim Schwartz for the Cleveland Browns, and it coincidently hurts Kevin Stefanski
The Cleveland Browns have their new defensive coordinator and it’s a big hire for head coach Todd Monken.
Todd Monken’s biggest hiring task as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns only came about because he was named the Kevin Stefanski replacement.
The Browns’ decision makers skipping over former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz led to his departure. Schwartz wasn’t content with staying under Monken as the defensive coordinator, and Monken was tasked with a new hire to make as a result.
Now, the Browns have their Schwartz replacement.
The Browns go to Kevin Stefanski’s Atlanta Falcons staff to find a new defensive coordinator
Cleveland is hiring Atlanta Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg to be the next defensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pellissero. Rutenberg was a key hire for Stefanski when he was named the head coach in Atlanta, and is now poached by the Browns to take over for Schwartz.
Rutenberg has past experience coaching under great defensive minds like Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich. Rutenberg coached linebackers with the New York Jets for four seasons before joining the Falcons. In 2020, Rutenberg was a passing game specialist with the San Francisco 49ers before Saleh took him to New York.
Rutenberg’s NFL coaching career began in 2013 as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and he was in that position for three seasons. The 44-year-old worked his way up to being a defensive assistant, then assistant linebackers coach with the Jaguars by 2018.
The Browns offer a very attractive defense to coach led by Myles Garrett. Overall, the unit has been one of the better groups in the NFL over the last three seasons. Young pieces like Carson Schwesinger and Mason Graham make the job even better.
Replacing Schwartz was always on the table after hiring Monken. The veteran assistant coach was entitled to being upset and it led to him departing the team. Cleveland goes with a first-time defensive coordinator in his replacement.
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