BEREA, Ohio — The honeymoon period for new Head Coach Todd Monken didn’t last long. It rarely does in Cleveland. But while Monken was hired primarily to resuscitate an offense that flatlined last season, his most critical immediate decision sits on the other side of the ball.
The Browns aren’t looking for a savior on defense; they need a steward for a juggernaut. With Jim Schwartz exiting after a dominant three-year run, Monken has narrowed his list to three names who will interview in person this weekend: Houston’s Cory Undlin, Atlanta’s Mike Rutenberg, and Cleveland’s own Jason Tarver.
The stakes? A unit featuring Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and the newly crowned Defensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesinger. This isn’t a rebuild. It’s a reload.
The Frontrunner: Cory Undlin
If you’re connecting the dots, the line draws straight to Cory Undlin. The Texans’ pass-game coordinator has spent the last three seasons orchestrating one of the NFL’s stingiest secondary units under DeMeco Ryans. His work with Derek Stingley Jr. transformed the young corner into a legitimate superstar.
But it’s the relationships that make Undlin the heavy favorite. He’s the only candidate who speaks the language of both the outgoing coordinator and the incoming head coach. Undlin won a Super Bowl ring in Philadelphia as defensive backs coach under Schwartz, meaning he knows the “wide-9” aggressive front intimately. Perhaps more importantly, he shared a sideline with Monken in Jacksonville back in 2009-2010. In a league run on trust, that history matters.
The “Homegrown” Hero: Jason Tarver
Don’t count out Jason Tarver. The current linebackers coach has the strongest case for continuity. While the offense struggled in 2025, Tarver’s linebacker room was the team’s heartbeat.
His résumé leads with one name: Carson Schwesinger. The second-round pick out of UCLA shocked the league by capturing Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, racking up 156 tackles and looking like a ten-year vet from Day 1. Tarver gets the credit for that rapid development. With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s future still cloudy after his 2024 neck injury, keeping Tarver might be the security blanket this young linebacker corps needs.
The Dark Horse: Mike Rutenberg
Mike Rutenberg is the wild card. Currently the Falcons’ defensive passing game coordinator, Rutenberg cut his teeth helping Robert Saleh build the New York Jets’ defense into a terrifying force. He brings a different flavor—a blend of the Saleh 4-3 scheme that relies heavily on chaotic pressure and disciplined zone coverage behind it.
Rutenberg doesn’t have the direct ties to Monken that Undlin does, but his track record with linebackers (coaching C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams to All-Pro seasons in New York) makes him an intriguing fit for a Browns roster built similarly up the middle.
“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel here. We just need someone to let us loose. The talent is in the room. Just give us the call and watch us work.”
— Myles Garrett, Browns Defensive End
What This Means for 2026
Monken’s choice here signals his philosophy as a head coach. Hiring Undlin suggests he wants to keep the Schwartz-era aggression alive while he focuses on fixing the offense. promoting Tarver signals a belief in culture and development above all else.
Regardless of the pick, the new DC walks into a dream scenario. They inherit a defense that finished top-5 in yards allowed last year. The pressure won’t be about fixing broken parts; it will be about not crashing the Ferrari.
