The Atlanta Falcons have quietly built one of the more intriguing defensive coaching staffs in the NFL, but success comes with a price - and now, that bill may be coming due.
After years of underwhelming defensive play, things shifted in a big way under Jeff Ulbrich. The Falcons’ defense didn’t just improve - it turned a corner.
That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen without strong leadership at multiple levels, and defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg has been a key piece of that puzzle. Now, he’s drawing serious interest elsewhere, and the Falcons could be on the verge of losing one of their most valuable minds.
According to league reports, Rutenberg has emerged as a top candidate to become the next defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. And this isn’t just a name being floated - there’s real substance here. With Robert Saleh now in Nashville, the potential for a reunion between him and Rutenberg is very much on the table.
These two go way back. Rutenberg and Saleh have worked together at multiple stops - Jacksonville, San Francisco, and most recently, New York.
The 2025 season marked the first time since 2014 that they weren’t on the same sideline. That’s over a decade of shared defensive philosophy and coaching chemistry.
So it’s not hard to see why Saleh would want to bring a familiar face into his new setup in Tennessee.
Rutenberg followed Ulbrich to Atlanta, where he helped lead a dramatic improvement in the Falcons’ secondary. Atlanta finished with the 13th-ranked pass defense, and that number likely would’ve been even better if not for a rash of injuries late in the season. Still, the unit showed enough promise to turn heads around the league - and Rutenberg’s fingerprints were all over it.
While A.J. Terrell didn’t have his best year, the safety tandem of Xavier Watts and Jessie Bates III was a revelation.
Watts, in particular, stood out as a rookie, leading all first-year players with five interceptions. Bates continued to play at a high level, but perhaps the biggest surprise was Dee Alford.
The former undrafted cornerback had a breakout season, and his development is a testament to Rutenberg’s coaching.
Alford is expected to cash in during free agency, and rookie Billy Bowman Jr. also flashed promise before an injury cut his season short. The Falcons’ secondary wasn’t stacked with big names or first-round pedigree - which makes what Rutenberg accomplished all the more impressive. He took a group that, on paper, didn’t scream top-tier, and turned it into a unit that consistently held its own against some of the league’s better passing attacks.
That kind of coaching doesn’t go unnoticed. If Rutenberg does end up in Tennessee, it would be a significant loss for Atlanta. He’s not just a rising coach - he’s a connector, a technician, and someone who clearly knows how to get the most out of his players.
There’s still a chance the Falcons hang on to him. Kevin Stefanski and Jeff Ulbrich have managed to retain most of their staff so far, and you can bet they’ll do everything they can to keep Rutenberg in the building. But with Saleh now steering the ship in Nashville, and the long-standing relationship between the two coaches, this one feels like it might be tough to stop.
It’s also worth noting that with the 49ers hiring Raheem Morris as their new defensive coordinator, Saleh could pivot to bringing in Gus Bradley for the DC role in Tennessee. If that happens, Rutenberg could be targeted for a similar position to the one he currently holds in Atlanta - which might give the Falcons a fighting chance to keep him.
Still, this is the kind of moment that tests a franchise’s ability to retain top talent. The Falcons have built something promising on defense. Keeping it intact might be just as important as anything they do this offseason.