SE Atlanta News

The Atlanta Falcons have announced the addition of two new members to their defensive coaching staff. Mike Rutenberg has been appointed as the defensive passing game coordinator, while Nate Ollie will serve as the defensive line coach.

Both coaches previously worked with Jeff Ulbrich, the new Falcons defensive coordinator, during their time with the New York Jets. Rutenberg was part of the Jets' staff from 2021 to 2024, and Ollie in 2021.

Rutenberg brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He spent last season as the linebackers coach for the Jets, a position he took up in 2021 under former head coach Robert Saleh. Over his four-year tenure with the team, he contributed to an impressive defense that consistently ranked among the top five in total and pass defense over three seasons. The Jets were fifth in total yards allowed in 2022 and third in both 2023 and 2024. Their pass defense ranked third in 2022, second in 2023, and fourth in 2024.

Despite these achievements, there was room for improvement on run defense during this period. In particular, they had their best performance against rushing offenses back in 2022 when they ranked sixteenth overall.

During his time at New York, Rutenberg coached notable players such as Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley; Williams earned an AP All-Pro first-team selection in 2023 while Mosley became a Pro Bowler alongside being named AP All-Pro second-teamer one year earlier.

Before joining forces with Saleh's staff at MetLife Stadium through various roles within other organizations including San Francisco's coaching setup (as passing game specialist) or Jacksonville where he served across multiple capacities spanning seven years - from assistant defensive backs coach all way up until becoming assistant linebackers’ leader – Rutenberg also had stints working under Washington Redskins franchise starting out initially just interning around player personnel matters before assisting then-head-coach Joe Gibbs between '04-'05 seasons too!

Nate Ollie arrives following recent success helping shape Houston Texans’ formidable front lines throughout last campaign which saw them concede only eleven rushing touchdowns (fourth-fewest league-wide), accumulate forty-nine sacks tying fourth-most amongst competitors whilst boasting eleventh-ranked rush stopping unit allowing fewer than two thousand total yards along ground routes altogether!

Ollie's prior experience includes serving Indianapolis Colts' DL department overseeing significant sack tallies despite some struggles defending runs: recording fifty-one quarterback takedowns alone during '23 season marked fifth-highest tally recorded any given year by NFL teams alike! His journey began humble beginnings back middle school level eventually progressing college ranks eventually landing professional gigs like Philadelphia Eagles where successes continued particularly regarding generating pressure opposing QBs repeatedly proving invaluable asset respective rosters he's joined since entering field coaching full-time capacity nearly decade ago now making upcoming '25 term official eleventh year active participant football industry overall!