Browns coaching staff: DC Mike Rutenberg promotes 2 coaches
· Yahoo Sports
With the NFL combine kicking off early next week (This staff member will be there and is seeking your questions in The Feed), the Cleveland Browns are slowly putting their defensive staff together, even if they have not made any of the decisions official.
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New HC Todd Monken has chosen Mike Rutenberg as the team’s new defensive coordinator. That decision was a bit of a surprise, with two qualified candidates already on the Browns coaching staff, Ephraim Banda and Jason Tarver, and a few other external coaches who seemed to be perfect fits.
A day after reportedly promoting CB coach Brandon Lynch, Rutenberg has now given Banda and Tarver new titles as well:
The Browns are promoting safeties coach Ephraim Banda to pass game coordinator, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 20, 2026
Banda interviewed this cycle for several defensive coordinator jobs, including with the Patriots. But he’ll stay in Cleveland as a top assistant to new DC Mike Rutenberg. pic.twitter.com/f8Jdt5ZFac
#Browns LB coach Jason Tarver, a finalist for the DC job, has been promoted to run game coordinator while safeties coach Ephraim Banda, who interviewed for the post, has been promoted to pass game coordinator, CB coach Brandon Lynch to pass game specialist, per source.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) February 20, 2026
Both Banda and Tarver, like former DC Jim Schwartz, were under contract in Cleveland but now get new titles and, possibly, a raise to continue coaching with the stellar Browns defense. The two could find themselves in prime positions for defensive coordinator roles next season if Cleveland’s unit has another solid year.
The Browns tend to announce new coaches and other promotions the day before the NFL combine, so we should have the entire staff become official on Monday.