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Defensive passing game coordinator Cory Undlin of the Houston Texans is a candidate for defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns.
Even before the Cleveland Browns got to a resolution with estranged defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who had been with the team for three seasons and clearly felt he should have been elevated to the head-coaching position once Kevin Stefanski was fired at the end of last season, a name as a potential replacement for Schwartz emerged: Cory Undlin, the passing-game coordinator for the Houston Texans.
Undlin is 54, and has been kicking around NFL coaching staffs for more than 20 years. He’s been in Cleveland before, serving four years (2005-08) in different capacities on the defensive side, under former coach Romeo Crennel.
Albert Breer of SI.com first broached the topic of Undlin as a candidate in his column because of his ties to new head coach Todd Monken. After Schwartz’s departure became official last week, Breer brought up his name again, writing on Twitter/X, “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.”
Todd Monken Has Spoken to Cory Undlin About DC Job
In the last few days, it has been reported that Undlin and Monken have gotten the ball rolling on a potential rejoining of forced. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston wrote on February 9, “Texans defensive passing game coordinator Cory Undlin is a candidate for the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator job and has talked with new head coach Todd Monken, per a league source connected to their interview process.”
But that did not amount to a formal interview for the job. Now, it seems, the Browns have put in their request to officially speak with Undlin.
Browns Officially Request Cory Undlin Interview
As Mary Kay Cabot, Browns beat writer for Cleveland.com, wrote on Twitter/X: “#Browns have requested an interview with Texans pass game coordinator Cory Undlin for DC, source says. They interviewed #Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg for the job on Wednesday.”
The Browns have interviewed others, too, including two from their current staff–linebackers coach Jason Tarver and safeties coach Ephriam Banda. There’s no telling which way they’ll go with the job, but the persistence of the Undlin chatter does seem to lend credence to the idea that Monken, at least, would favor him.
Browns’ Myles Garrett Praised Jim Schwartz Defense
Whatever the Browns do decide to do with the job, they will need to make sure they have one key figure on side with the pick: star pass-rusher Myles Garrett, who is a leader on and off the field. Garrett also has an affinity for Schwartz and his style of play.
Monken vowed in his introductory press conference that the Browns would keep their defensive scheme intact with or without Schwartz, but a new coordinator is sure to put his own twists on the program.
As Garrett said on Micah Parsons’ podcast last week, “I don’t think I get two DPOYs without Jim. He helped mold my potential as a player to put me into a scheme and a system that fit me well and enabled me to do what I do best—pin my ears back, rush the passer. Attack the front. You see the front, you attack it. See ball, get ball.
“And for us as edge rushers, that’s the easiest way to play. … So, do we get there? I mean, it’s about the guys we’ve got in the building. So, we’ve all got to be pointed in the right direction. We’ve got to all understand the mission and take it with urgency.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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