Cory

Undlin

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot identified Texans defensive pass game coordinator Cory Undlin and Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as the other two finalists earlier today. Tarver has been in his current role since 2020. Cabot believes new Browns head coach Todd Monken could hire the team’s new defensive coordinator by Monday or Tuesday.

Cabot believes head coach Todd Monken “could name his (defensive coordinator) in the next day or two.” Undlin has over two decades of experience coaching in the NFL, but his lone stint as a defensive coordinator came in 2020 with the Lions. Undlin is one of at least two candidates receiving a second interview for the job, with Falcons’ LB coach Mike Rutenberg also set to meet with the team in person.

Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes that the Browns also interviewed Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg for the job. The Browns were initially expected to keep DC Jim Schwartz in the fold. After being passed over for their head coaching opening, Schwartz chose to resign from his position, meaning he will take the year off from coaching. Though the Browns are far from a functional franchise, the opportunity to coach Myles Garrett is one most young defensive coaches will pounce on. Undlin has been in the NFL for over two decades. He has one year of defensive coordinator experience and even coached in Cleveland for a few seasons early in his NFL days.

The report comes from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who notes that the Texans run the same defensive scheme as the Browns. Browns DC Jim Schwartz resigned yesterday. Undlin spent 2015-2019 coaching defensive backs with the Eagles. Schwartz ran the Eagles’ defense from 2016-2020. Vasso signed on with the Eagles as a defensive quality control coach and assistant secondary coach in 2016. He was promoted to the title of assistant coordinator/defense in 2020.

Undlin’s contract with the 49ers had run out, and the Texans continue to drain the 49ers coaching pool for talent under DeMeco Ryans. Undlin was Lions defensive coordinator in 2020 and should bring some good experience to his new team. He joins DC Matt Burke as a primary sounding board for Ryans in his new gig.

This will be the 48-year-old’s first coordinating gig following over a decade of experience as both a position coach and defensive assistant. Undlin and Lions coach Matt Patricia got their start together as assistants under Patriots coach Bill Belichick in the early 2000s. He’ll replace Paul Pasqualoni, who recently stepped away from his defensive coordinator post to spend more time with his family, among other pursuits. Philadelphia’s secondary largely struggled in 2019, though that had more to do with injuries than anything Undlin did or didn’t do.