Houston has spent the better part of two decades searching for an identity. Under DeMeco Ryans, we finally found it: a swarming, suffocating defense that doesn’t just “bend but not break,” but actively hunts. At the heart of that secondary revolution is Cory Undlin.
The rumors linking the Houston Texans Defensive Passing Game Coordinator to the Cleveland Browns to replace the departing Jim Schwartz might make sense for Cleveland, but for Houston, it would be a devastating loss at exactly the wrong time.
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With Schwartz out the door, the Browns face a terrifying fork in the road, overhaul a top-five unit to fit a new scheme, or find the person who can keep the engine running.
Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer circled Texans defensive pass game coordinator in bright red, Cory Undlin as a key candidate to fill that vacancy.
“With Browns DC Jim Schwartz now out, as we said last week, Texans PGC Cory Undlin becomes a key name to watch. Undlin was with Todd Monken in Jacksonville in 2009 and 2010. Will be interesting to see if the Raiders pursue Schwartz next week.”
The Developing System
If you want to know why Cory Undlin is indispensable, look no further than Derek Stingley Jr. Before Undlin arrived, Stingley was a talented enigma battling injuries. Under Undlin’s tutelage, he exploded into an AP First-Team All-Pro corner.
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Undlin helped built a system that empowered a “no-fly zone.” Last season, our DB unit notched 19 interceptions, the third-most in franchise history. Watching rookie Calen Bullock lead all NFL rookies in picks and Kamari Lassiter transition seamlessly to the pro game isn’t a coincidence. It’s the “Undlin Effect.” To let the architect of that growth walk away to a conference rival would be a massive step backward for our young core.
The Continuity Conundrum
We know why the Browns want him. They want to keep the “Schwartz Scheme” alive, and Undlin is a branch of that coaching tree. But Cleveland’s gain is Houston’s disruption.
The Ryans-Burke-Undlin Trifecta: The synergy between DeMeco, DC Matt Burke, and Undlin is the reason we jumped to a top-ranked defense in 2025. Breaking that up now, just as we’re entering our Super Bowl window, is a risk Cal McNair and Nick Caserio shouldn’t want to take.
Secondary Stability: We have a secondary full of young, ascending stars. Changing the voice in that room now could stunt the development of guys like Lassiter and Bullock just as they’re finding their footing.
The Price of Success
It’s the double-edged sword of being a winning franchise. Everyone wants your coaches. First, it was the Arizona Cardinals sniffing around, and now the Browns. While we should be proud that Houston is finally a “coaching factory,” there is a line between being proud and being pillaged.
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Cleveland already has the talent with Myles Garrett and a dominant front. They don’t need our secondary mastermind to fix their problems. If the Texans are serious about a deep playoff run in 2026, they need to find a way to keep Undlin in H-Town.