Belt: Mike Rutenberg is a name to watch for new DC

[Kwyn]

He is currently the Falcons Defensive Passing Game Coordinator.

Jim Schwartz, Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich get mentioned too.



-

Mike Rutenberg was named defensive pass game coordinator on Jan. 24, 2025.

He joined the Falcons after spending four seasons (2021-24) as linebackers coach for the New York Jets and brought 15 years of NFL experience to the club.

In his time in New York, Rutenberg was part of the only defense in the league to rank in the top five of total defense in each of the three seasons (2022-24), finishing fourth in 2022 before finishing third in both 2023 and 2024. Over the three seasons combined, the Jets' defense ranked No. 1 in total defense (305.7 yards per game), No. 1 in passing defense (183.5 yards per game), No. 5 in tackles for loss (269), No. 8 in sacks (136) and No. 9 in scoring defense (21.1 points per game). In addition to finishing third in total defense in 2024, the Jets defense was fourth in passing defense, allowing only 192.6 yards per game while ranking seventh in sacks per pass attempt at a rate of 8.25 percent.

In 2023, Rutenberg helped linebacker Quincy Williams earn First Team All-Pro and Team MVP honors, becoming the only First Team All-Pro on defense who joined his team via waiver claim since 2000. Additionally, under Rutenberg's lead, Williams became one of six players since 2015 to record at least 100 tackles (139), 10 tackles for loss (15), and 10 passes defensed (10) on the season.

Full bio

This was Robert Saleh’s work.

Bringing in rank and file staffers simply because they were part of a team led by a great DC, doesn’t mean they were integral to the success or that they leaned enough to be able to elevate to DC.

Jets fans were not singing his praises at the time, nor were they clamoring for him to leave.

He was just a coach.

There are many better and I’m curious how this story even got started.

 

[The Natural]

Lol.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

You would know if you subscribed to my OnlyFans.

is that the only page on OF that pays people to watch?

 

[Beaker42]

For what it's worth, whenever I watched the Falcons this year I marveled at how coordinated they were defensively in the passing game.

Or could it just be we’d settle for a HS D coordinator right now as opposed to the doosh we have??

 

[McKDaddy]

For what it's worth, whenever I watched the Falcons this year I marveled at how coordinated they were defensively in the passing game.

That was my first thought as well

 

[Whyjerry]

Can't they just hire someone with actual pedigree or out of a winning culture? These chuckleheads always have to prove they are smarter than everyone.

 

[Teague31]

Literally have never heard of him. The perfect big and little hire

 

[Teague31]

Nothing says all in like hiring this guy

 

[Wichitaleafs]

For what it's worth, whenever I watched the Falcons this year I marveled at how coordinated they were defensively in the passing game.

Lol

 

[dreghorn2]

Never been a full coordinator so the move for him would be a big step up, thus he'll come cheap.

Sounds about right.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Does he teach his defensive ends to jump inside and lose contain regularly? Does he coach his linebackers to shoot the wrong gap and trail the play by ten yards twenty times a game? Does he employ zone coverage 80 percent of the time with cornerbacks that excel in press man? Do his safeties sit deep and watch and take bad angles?

If the answer is "no" to at least two of these questions, we got an upgrade over Eberflus.

 

[irishline]

Coached up Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley.

Linebacker whisperer, where have I heard that before? Oh wait.

 

[basel90]

Robert saleh was Jerry’s best shot and he blew it . He admired as such on the radio show . Always the wro:g decisions by Jerry

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Robert saleh was Jerry’s best shot and he blew it . He admired as such on the radio show . Always the wro:g decisions by Jerry

Salah was going back home to San Fran why on earth would he come here?

 

[darthseinfeld]

He, Ulbrich, and Whitecotton all coached under Salah…I’m intrigued.

I think Ulbrich would keep Whitecotton for continuity and familiarity

However I think its going to wind up being Morris. He seems to lean towards former HC's that have solid DC resumes. Quinn and Zimmer had strong DC runs. Eberflus was a stong DC in Indy

I actually think Rex Ryan is a wild card. I think Jones wants a headlining splash, thats his move. He is willing to pay his DC almost as much as his HC

 

[Carson]

Robert saleh was Jerry’s best shot and he blew it . He admired as such on the radio show . Always the wro:g decisions by Jerry

He only wanted to go back to SF or be a head coach

 

[basel90]

Salah was going back home to San Fran why on earth would he come here?

He interviewed for 2 days at the star and Jerry said they were enamel by him , but chose eberflus . Have no idea what happened but saleh was interested apparently and gave them a detailed plan

 

[basel90]

He only wanted to go back to SF or be a head coach

See my note , he interrviewed for DC I believe

 

[Majic]

Why would we go for this guy? From what I can see he does not run a multiple scheme, just very similar to what we have had before which has not worked.

 

[Captain-Crash]

I think Amed got fired down at the 7/11; he used to be an HC/DC in high school 34 years ago. I hope we look at his work, or that crackhead who got fired for not selling enough crack. When he was in high school, he was a great defensive player.