CLEVELAND, Ohio — Todd Monken kicked off his defensive coordinator search this weekend by interviewing two internal candidates in linebackers coach Jason Tarver and safeties coach Ephraim Banda.
Tarver, 51, was hired by Kevin Stefanski in 2020 and has spent the past six seasons as Browns linebackers coach. He previously served as coordinator of the Raiders under Dennis Allen from 2012 to 2014.
In his first season as coordinator, he improved the Raiders defense from No. 29 in total yards to No. 18 in 2012.
Banda, 44, has spent the past three seasons as safeties coach of the Browns under former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who resigned on Friday after being passed over the head coaching job in favor of Monken. He’s served as co-defensive coordinator at Miami, and defensive coordinator at Utah State, and interviewed for coordinator vacancies with the Cowboys and Jets this cycle.
Tarver’s crowning achievement as Browns linebackers coach was guiding Carson Schwesinger, their No. 33 overall pick out of UCLA, to AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2025, where he received 40 out of 50 first-place votes. Schwesinger led the team with 146 tackles, while adding two interceptions, 2.5 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss. He led all NFL rookies in tackles and tackles for a loss and tied for third in interceptions.
He recorded double-digit tackles in seven games, including a stretch of six consecutive games, longest streak in the NFL this season. He was the only linebacker with at least 11 TFLs and two interceptions in 2025.
In addition to Tarver and Banda, Texans defensive pass game coordinator Cory Undlin is on Monken’s radar for coordinator. Undlin, 54, won a Super Bowl under Schwartz as defensive backs coach in Philadelphia after the 2017 season, and also worked with Monken in 2010 in Jacksonville when Monken was receivers coach there. Furthermore, Undlin worked under Romeo Crennel with the Browns from 2005-08.
He’s currently working under Schwartz-disciple Matt Burke, the Texans defensive coordinator, and checks a lot of boxes for the job. Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso was also a possible candidate, but he signed an extension to remain in Houston.
As for Tarver and Banda, they were both part of a defense that finished first in a number of key categories from 2023-25, including total yards per game, first downs allowed, third down percentage, fourth down percentage, pass yards per game, first downs per pass attempt, and most team tackles for a loss. They were also third in sacks and tied for second with eight defensive touchdowns.
Before the Browns can hire a coordinator, they must interview two diverse candidates, either a minority and/or a woman.
With most of his new offensive staff in place, Monken would undoubtedly like to have his defensive coordinator on board soon.
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