Scratch Charlie Bullen’s name off the list of candidates to take over as the next defensive coordinator of the Browns.
Bullen had been the outside linebackers coach for the Giants the last two seasons. The Browns asked permission to interview him for the defensive coordinator vacancy created when Jim Schwartz resigned on Feb. 5. But on Feb. 13, Bullen opted to stay in the Big Apple after head coach John Harbaugh made him the Giants’ defensive run game coordinator.
Meanwhile, the search for the Browns’ next defensive coordinator continues.
The Browns have asked Houston for permission to interview Texans pass game coordinator Cory Undlin for the job. Undlin, 54, emerged as a favorite to replace Schwartz even before Schwartz officially resigned. Schwartz was upset when Todd Monken was chosen for the head coaching job over him.
Monken and Undlin have a coaching connection. Monken was wide receivers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2007-10. Undlin coached the Jaguars’ defensive backs in 2010 and 2011.
Undlin was on Romeo Crennel’s staff in Cleveland from 2005-08, first as the defensive quality control coach, then assistant special teams coach and finally as defensive backs coach in 2008.
Undlin has been the Texans’ defensive pass game coordinator since 2023. The Texans finished with the top-rated defense in 2025, allowing an average of 277.2 yards a game. The Browns were fourth, allowing 283.6 yards a game. The 2025 Texans were sixth in pass defense. They finished third in the league with 19 interceptions.
During his introductory news conference as head coach, Monken said he wanted to keep the same system Schwartz used the last three years. Undlin was the defensive backs coach in Philadelphia from 2015-19. Schwartz was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator from 2016-20.
Monken has already interviewed linebackers coach Jason Tarver and safeties coach Ephraim Banda as internal candidates plus Rams assistant head coach and pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant.
In other news, reports Monken had hired Daniel Sterns as associate head coach have proven to be premature. Sterns, formerly the director of football strategy/assistant quarterbacks coach for the Ravens, has decided to take a job with the Super Bowl champion Seahawks instead. Klint Kubiak, formerly the Seahawks offensive coordinator, was named Raiders’ head coach the day after the Seahawks drubbed the Patriots, 29-13, in Super Bowl LX. Stearns will have a hand in shaping the Seattle offense going forward.