New Titans head coach Robert Saleh has found an offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, but the team’s D-coordinator position remains open. That may change soon, though, as Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg has emerged as a “leading candidate” to take over as the Titans’ DC, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. The Titans requested an interview with Rutenberg last week.
The 44-year-old Rutenberg is coming off his first season in Atlanta, whose pass defense ranked a respectable 13th in the NFL. The Falcons also tied for sixth with 16 interceptions, five of which came from rookie third-round pick Xavier Watts, and 11th in passer rating against (88.2).
A few weeks after his productive first season with the Falcons ended, Rutenberg could reunite with Saleh in Tennessee. The two already have a long history together that began in Jacksonville over a decade ago.
Saleh was the Jaguars’ linebackers coach in 2014, and Rutenberg was their assistant defensive backs coach. Six years later, Rutenberg worked under Saleh, then San Francisco’s defensive coordinator, as the 49ers’ passing game specialist in 2020. Saleh then brought Rutenberg with him to New York when he became the Jets’ head coach in 2021.
Rutenberg coached the Jets’ LBs through last season, Saleh’s final year on the job. Jeff Ulbrich finished the campaign as the Jets’ interim head coach after they fired Saleh in October 2024. With Ulbrich on his way out to take the Falcons’ defensive coordinator gig last offseason, Rutenberg accompanied him to Atlanta.
Since beginning his career as an intern with Washington in 2003, Rutenberg hasn’t worked as a defensive coordinator at either the pro or college levels (he coached at UCLA and New Mexico from 2006-12). Past play-calling experience isn’t a must in this case, though, with Saleh set to handle those responsibilities in 2026.
Aside from Rutenberg, here’s the small list of DC candidates Saleh has considered to replace the fired Dennard Wilson:
- Aaron Whitecotton, defensive line coach (Cowboys): Interview requested; hired as DL coach
- Al Harris, defensive backs coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/24
- Dino Vasso, defensive backs coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/24