Matt

Burke

At the helm of the Texans defense with head coach DeMeco Ryans for the past three seasons, Burke has helped craft a hard-hitting, powerful defensive line and secondary. He took over defensive play-calling from Ryans towards the start of a season that saw the Texans allow the least yards and second-least points of any team in the NFL, while ranking top-seven in both sacks and interceptions. The Cardinals just moved off a defensive head coach and are now looking to interview another one, requesting an interview with Burke fresh off a two-touchdown defensive performance in the Wild Card Round.

Stefanski certainly couldn’t be blamed for wanting to exit Cleveland after another season spent coordinating a dead-on-arrival offense hamstrung by Deshaun Watson’s contract. Especially after he didn’t appear to be on Andrew Berry’s page about giving up Joe Flacco to the Bengals in a midseason trade. As we hit silly season, Stefanski’s status will be one of the more important dominoes to watch. Hughes also mentions as names to watch for the job: Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Rams OC Mike LaFleur, Eagles OC Kevin Patullo (??), Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, Vikings DC Brian Flores, Former Raiders HC Antonio Pierce, and Texans DC Matt Burke.

Burke beat out Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel for the job. The Cardinals’ defensive line coach last year, Burke served as Miami’s defensive coordinator from 2017-2018. He also has stints with the Jets, Lions, Titans, and Bengals. Burke will likely focus on game-planning in Houston with HC DeMeco Ryans expected to call the defensive plays.

Burke joined the Cardinals as their defensive line coach last season but has bounced around to various teams since 2004 when he joined the Titans as an administrative assistant. He last served as a defensive coordinator in 2017-2018 as a member of Adam Gase’s coaching staff, where his defenses finished 29th and 27th in points allowed per game, respectively. Before joining the Cardinals, Burke also spent time with the Eagles (2019-2020) and Jets (2021).

A longtime linebackers coach, Burke coordinated the Dolphins’ undermanned defense the past two years. He worked with Schwartz in Detroit from 2009-13.

Burke is replacing Vance Joseph, now the Broncos’ head coach. Burke joined the Dolphins last year following stints in Cincinnati and Detroit. This will be his first crack coordinating following eight years as a position coach. Burke could model the Dolphins’ 4-3 scheme after Jim Schwartz, who mentored Burke early in his career. That’s also the system Ndamukong Suh thrived in with the Lions.

With Vance Joseph leaving to take the lead job in Denver, Miami needs a replacement. Burke worked with Joseph in Cincinnati before joining the Dolphins last offseason. The 40-year-old has coached in the NFL for eight seasons.