Jason

Tarver

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.

Banda was requested for the Jets and Cowboys defensive coordinator vacancies, so he at least has some outside buzz as a real candidate. This is the first interview we can record for Tarver. The other name remaining for the Browns appears to be Texans assistant Cory Undlin. It’s an underwhelming group in the wake of Jim Schwartz’s resignation.

He returns to the NFL following a two-year stint at the college level. Tarver has largely served as a position coach, though he did endure a three-year stint as Oakland’s defensive coordinator under Dennis Allen from 2012-14. The Browns are expected to run a 4-3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Joe Woods.

Tarver’s contract had expired on Tuesday. The Raiders’ outmanned defense ranked near the bottom of the league in most categories, but overachieved for large parts of 2013. Tarver deserved another year under coach Dennis Allen.

Tarver oversaw an hysterically-bad 49ers linebacker corps this season, but it could hardly be considered his fault. The Niners had zero talent. Tarver coordinated the Raiders’ defense from 2012-14. The Redskins are interviewing underwhelming candidates as they look to replace Joe Barry.

The 49ers are back on the search after Texans LBs coach Mike Vrabel turned down the job in San Francisco. Both Tarver and Martindale have previous coordinator experience. Tarver was the Raiders’ defensive boss from 2012-2014, while Martindale was the Broncos’ coordinator in 2010.

Tarver was expected to be high on newly-hired coach Jim Tomsula wish list, but ESPN’s Adam Caplan said two other teams may be in the mix. Oakland ranked near the bottom in most defensive categories during Tarver’s three-year run as coordinator, but his talent-deficient defenses arguably overachieved all three years. He will likely run someone’s defense in 2015.

Tarver is expected to land a role somewhere on Tomsula’s staff, but the position has yet to be determined. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Raiders from 2012-13, and is at least a candidate to fill the same role with the 49ers in 2015. Tarver spent 10 seasons with the 49ers before becoming Stanford’s defensive coordinator in 2011.

Tarver is downgrading to position coach after spending the last three seasons as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator. He served as San Francisco’s outside linebackers coach from 2005-10 and will reunite with Jim Tomsula. Tarver’s defenses largely overachieved in Oakland and he is a solid addition to Tomsula’s staff. The 49ers are considering Eric Mangini as a potential in-house replacement for DC Vic Fangio.

Tarver has spent most of his adult life as a 49ers assistant, but evidently believes his road back to becoming a defensive coordinator runs through college. Tarver was the Raiders’ defensive boss from 2012-14, overseeing an undermanned unit.