Former Detroit Lions defense coordinator Cory Undlin is a Cleveland Browns candidate.
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Former Detroit Lions defense coordinator Cory Undlin is a Cleveland Browns candidate.
Now there are three. For the Cleveland Browns, the search to replace Jim Schwartz as the defensive coordinator has been going on for 10 days, and the field has been whittled down to three candidates, with a final decision set to come very soon.
Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns beat writer for Cleveland.com, says that the team has gotten its field down to Cory Undlin, the passing game coordinator for the Texans; Falcons passing game coordinator Mike Rutenberg, and the remaining in-house candidate, Browns linebackers coach Jason Tarver.
The Browns need a new defensive coordinator, of course, because Schwartz was angry that he was passed over for the head-coaching position following the firing of Kevin Stefanski. Schwartz had certainly established his credentials running the defense and relating to players, as his D finished No. 6 in Pro Football Focus’ rankings in his first year, No. 8 in Year 2 and No. 2 overall in 2025.
Browns Have 1 In-House Candidate Remaining
For the Browns, there has been much discussion about keeping the Schwartz “wide nine” defense in place even as the coordinator position changes hands. That would obviously lend some juice to Tarver’s candidacy, since he has been in the building and coaching under Schwartz for three seasons.
Tarver has some experience as a defensive coordinator, though it did not go well for him–he was the Raiders‘ DC from 2012-14, and the team’s defense ranked No. 28 in points allowed in his first year, No. 29 in his second year and No. 32 in his final year.
Keeping Tarver, though, could send a positive message to players and other coaches who might be displeased with how the Schwartz situation was handled. But there is something to be said, too, for new coach Todd Monken hiring someone with whom he has a comfort level. He’s said to be close with Undlin, who was on staff with him with the Jaguars nearly two decades ago.
Undlin also worked with Schwartz when both were on the Eagles‘ staff from 2016-19.
Rutenberg is the dark horse, with no obvious connections to the Browns or Monken. He has been with the Falcons for one year, but was the linebackers coach for the Jets from 2021-24.
Browns head coach Todd Monken
GettyBrowns head coach Todd Monken
Jim Schwartz Helped Improve Individual Defensive Players
In his introductory press conference, Monken told Browns media that he was hopeful that Schwartz would stick around as the defensive coordinator, but added that the team could run Schwartz’s defense without him. He pointed out that the players made the Browns defense great, not the coordinator.
That’s only partly true, though. Under Schwartz, the Browns got standout performances from guys who had underachieved, like lineman Maliek Collins, edge Alex Wright and linebacker Devin Bush.
Even star pass-rusher Myles Garrett credited Schwartz with making him better.
“I don’t think I get two DPOYs without Jim,” Garrett said last week. “He helped mold my potential as a player to put me into a scheme and a system that fit me well and enabled me to do what I do best—pin my ears back, rush the passer. Attack the front. You see the front, you attack it. See ball, get ball. …
“So, do we get there? I mean, it’s about the guys we’ve got in the building. So, we’ve all got to be pointed in the right direction. We’ve got to all understand the mission and take it with urgency.”