The Browns have added two more candidates to the list of possible defensive coordinators on Todd Monken’s coaching staff.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that they have requested interviews with Panthers passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley and Falcons passing game coordinator Mike Rutenberg.
Cooley has spent the last three years on Dave Canales’s staff in Carolina and the last two seasons in his current role. He spent three seasons with the Rams and made several stops on the college circuit before moving into the NFL.
Rutenberg was a candidate in Tennessee before the Titans hired Gus Bradley as their coordinator. Rutenberg joined the Falcons after spending four years with the Jets.
Falcons Clips
More details have emerged regarding the recent arrest of Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr., who has professed innocence through his lawyer.
Via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com, Rickea Jackson of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks had been trying to end a relationship with Pearce. Jackson told police that, on Saturday morning, she saw Pearce approaching her vehicle in a white Lamborghini SUV. When she stopped at a red light, Pearce got out and tried to open the door to her car.
She drove away, heading toward a police station. He got back inside his vehicle and chased her. Jackson said Pearce rammed his SUV into the rear end of her car. After she tried to drive away, he allegedly drove head-on into her vehicle.
When police responded to the crime scene, they saw Pearce standing outside his car, door open. When an officer pulled his gun and ordered Pearce to get on the ground, Pearce got back inside closed the door. The officer opened the door. Pearce pulled it shut and locked it.
Pearce then drove away, striking the officer in the knee.
Police chased Pearce until his SUV crashed. He got out and ran. Officers caught him, and he allegedly continued to resist arrest.
Pearce faces five felony counts and a misdemeanor charge.
“We look forward to working with the State Attorney’s Office in fully investigating this case and uncovering the truth,” Pearce’s lawyers said in a statement issued to Raimondi. “Mr. Pearce maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story. We look forward to vigorously defending our client and remain confident that he will continue contributing positively to both his team and the community he serves so well.”
The NFL separately said the situation will be reviewed under the Personal Conduct Policy.
Falcons pass rusher James Pearce Jr. faces five felony counts after his arrest Saturday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN reports.
Pearce posted $20,500 bond and will be released “sometime today,” a Miami-Dade corrections official told Raimondi.
Pearce’s case was assigned to the felony domestic crimes intake unit, and he was given a pre-trial conditional stay-away order with regard to Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson, per Raimondi.
He faces two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a count of aggravated stalking. Pearce is also charged with fleeing and eluding police officers, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence to his person.
Pearce crashed his vehicle after fleeing from police, who were called to a domestic dispute.
The Falcons issued a statement saying they are “aware of the incident.”
Pearce, who finished third in defensive rookie of the year voting, is subject to discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
The Falcons say they are in the midst of gathering information after pass rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested on Saturday.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time,” the team’s statement said.
Pearce was arrested on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking and fleeing police. According to police, they were dispatched to a call of a domestic dispute when Pearce fled the area and led them on a chase that resulted in Pearce crashing his car.
Pearce was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
After the Falcons traded up in the first round to draft Pearce last year, he played in all 17 games as a rookie and recorded 10.5 sacks. He finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
In addition to criminal charges, Pearce will face an investigation under the NFL’s personal conduct policy that could lead to a suspension.
Falcons pass rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking and fleeing police.
Local10.com reports that Pearce was arrested Saturday after fleeing when police were called to a domestic dispute and crashing his vehicle during the ensuing police chase.
Pearce was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. His bond has not yet been set.
The Falcons traded up to draft Pearce with the 26th overall pick last year, and he had an excellent rookie season, finishing with 10.5 sacks and coming in third place in defensive rookie of the year voting.
In addition to the criminal case he’s now facing, Pearce will be subject to league discipline under the personal conduct policy.
An offseason of major changes in Atlanta will include the departure of Ryan Pace.
The Falcons and Pace have parted ways, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Pace had spent the last four years with the Falcons, and his most recent title was vice president of football operations and player personnel. But in an offseason when Matt Ryan has taken over the front office and General Manager Terry Fontenot was fired, Pace no longer has a place in the front office.
The 48-year-old Pace is best known for working as GM of the Bears from 2015 to 2021. Before that he spent 14 years with the Saints.
The Falcons hired Matt Jones as assistant offensive line coach, the team announced on Friday.
Jones comes to Atlanta after working with the Titans the previous three seasons as an offensive assistant (2024-25) and offensive line assistant (2023).
He contributed to an offensive line that helped the development of Titans’ 2024 first-round pick tackle JC Latham, who started all 17 games at left tackle. Second-year left guard Peter Skoronski also started every game, while right guard Dillon Radunz established a career high with 15 starts.
In 2023, Jones worked with an offensive line that helped running back Derrick Henry rank second in the NFL with 1,167 rushing yards.
Jones previously spent four seasons at the University of Tennessee-Martin as offensive line and tight ends coach (2019) and run game coordinator/offensive line and tight ends coach (2020-22). Before his time at UT Martin, Jones was the offensive line coach at Texas Southern for two seasons (2017-18) and at Jackson State for one season (2016).
Kirk Cousins is ready for anything this offseason.
Cousins remains under contract to the Falcons, but the quarterback is expected to be released before March 13 because his reworked contract now calls for a $67.9 guarantee for the 2027 season to vest at that time. Cousins could sign a different contract to return to the Falcons after closing out the 2025 season as their starter, but he said on PFT Live that “my expectation is to not expect anything” when it comes to where he’ll be playing in the fall.
“I’ll keep an open mind, kinda be ready for whatever may happen,” Cousins said. “I still think it’s really early. When we get to March, we’ll know more. Have some substantive conversations and see where it goes.”
Cousins tore his Achilles while playing for the Vikings in 2023 and he was benched during the 2024 season, but said he felt healthier last year and “rejuvenated” by his return to the lineup after Michael Penix tore his ACL. He said he “would love to get an opportunity to play and compete” once he does get a better sense of what teams are interested in his services.
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson approves of his new head coach and offensive coordinator.
Robinson was mic’d up while talking to Pro Bowl teammates, and he talked about how excited he is to play for new Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski, and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, who will call the plays in the Falcons’ offense.
“Kevin Stefanski, he’s fire bro,” Robinson said. “I like him a lot, and his offensive scheme. Tommy Rees, he’s the OC, but he’ll call the plays.”
Robinson has completed three years of his rookie contract, which likely means he’s looking for a new deal this offseason. He’d like to sign a long-term deal that makes him the highest-paid running back in football, and keeps him playing for Stefanski in Atlanta for years to come.
The Falcons aren’t ready to make any commitment to a starting quarterback at this point in the calendar.
Michael Penix was drafted in the first round by the previous regime, but his first full season as a starter was cut short when he tore his ACL in November. The team has since hired head coach Kevin Stefanski, General Manager Ian Cunningham, and president of football Matt Ryan, and Ryan said at a Tuesday press conference introducing Cunningham that the new braintrust has to break down the entire roster before they come up with plans for who will be on the field come September.
“Neither of us are the head coach of the football team, so we can’t answer your question on that. . . . I think as we start to get into this process and dive deeper into the roster — how it currently stands, where it’s going in the future — I think those are conversations that’ll be a part of it,” Ryan said, via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com “Quarterback’s obviously very important, and we’re excited about Mike and what he’s doing with his rehab. I’ve been up at the facility the last three weeks, and Michael’s been in there attacking that and he’s in a good space right now, so we’re excited about where he is at. But certainly, a lot of discussions for us about the entire roster.”
Given the timing of Penix’s injury, it’s not a sure thing that he’ll be ready to go for Week 1. Kirk Cousins finished out the 2025 season as the starter, but he’s expected to be released after reworking his contract so the Falcons may be in the market for an addition at quarterback next month.
