New Cleveland Browns DC Mike Rutenberg plans on building on the foundation former DC Jim Schwartz established in his three years overseeing the defense
On the day former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was fired, several defensive players advocated for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to get the job. Schwartz, in three seasons had turned the Browns defense into one of the best units in football, garnering plenty of admiration from his players along the way.
As the head coach search played out, Schwartz was a candidate up until the very end, but Cleveland ultimately settled on 60-year-old offensive guru Todd Monken to succeed Stefanski.
It's decision that left reportedly Schwartz frustrated to the point where he packed up his office and vowed to never return, despite still being under contract with the franchise.
About a month later, there's a new DC in town. Mike Rutenberg steps into the role, in what is his first ever opportunity to be a defensive coordinator. His first major challenge, winning over the players who have such an affinity for the guy he's replacing.
For the 44-year-old, it's a simple process.
"Any new opportunity is about building relationships, right?," said Rutenberg at his introductory press conference. "And relationships come from the heart. So we're going to build relationships. I'm going to learn about the players, learn about the coaches, share my story and learn their story. And whatever is important to the players, I want to learn about them, whether it's their families, whether it's football, any outside interests, I'm going to dive right in and build those relationships.
Rutenberg was sure to give his flowers to Schwartz, who led the Browns to top five finishes in EPA per play in 2023 and 2025. In those same two seasons, Cleveland finished top five in yards allowed per game, and top 10 in total sacks as a unit.
All the while, star defensive end Myles Garrett racked up two Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
Rutenberg is well aware he's being handed the keys to a sports car and there's plenty of pressure to keep it on the road.
"First of all, I feel very fortunate to be part of this unit," he said. "I feel very fortunate to work with the staff who coached this unit and feel very fortunate to work with these players who have achieved great things. Similar to the previous question, anytime you go to a new job in this profession, it's about building the relationships, get us to play as hard, as fast, final, which is part of our heart, mind, fast as possible."
When Monken held his introductory presser back in early February, he was adamant that they weren't going to reinvent the wheel on defensive, with or without Schwartz on staff.
Rutenberg is taking the same approach. He recognizes what has made this defense successful over the years. He's bringing a different perspective to the unit, but not trying to change the way they play.
"It's always going to be style over scheme no matter what," he asserted. "The way we play, how hard we play, playing for each other, how fast we play and how violent we play. And that's always going to be over scheme, us going after the ball and then putting our players in the best positions to be successful. It's always going to start with the front. It forever and always will in the history of football."
His first message to the group is simple. Leep doing what's made you successful, but it all starts in the trenches.
"Keep attacking. Keep getting downhill. Keep attacking. Keep getting downhill," said Rutenberg. "Like you said, not only Myles, weโve got great players across the front. Maliek (Collins), Alex (Wright), Isaiah (McGuire), Mason Graham, I could keep going across the front. And the โbackers behind him were involved with Carson (Schwesinger), and obviously Dev (Bush) had a great year last year and Mohamoud (Diabate) had a great year and then the safeties behind them with Grant (Delpit) and Rocket (Ronnie Hickman). Everybody's involved, but it's always going to go back to the front.
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