FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons announced two hires for their defensive coaching staff Thursday.
Mike Rutenberg has been named the Falcons' defensive passing game coordinator, while Nate Ollie has been tapped as the defensive line coach.
Both Rutenberg and Ollie worked with new Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich with the New York Jets. Rutenberg did so from 2021-24. Ollie only did in 2021.
Learn more about Rutenberg's and Ollie's backgrounds below.
MIKE RUTENBERG
Rutenberg spent the 2024 season as the Jets linebackers coach, the same position he accepted in 2021 when former head coach Robert Saleh built his initial staff. Though Rutenberg was there for four seasons, the last three were the defense's most impressive.
The Jets are the only team in the NFL that ranked in the top five in total defense and pass defense in each of the last three seasons. In terms of total yardage, they were No. 5 in 2022 with 5,288 yards allowed, No. 3 in 2023 with 4,969 yards allowed and No. 3 in 2024 with 5,334 yards allowed. With passing, the Jets were No. 3 in 2022 with 3,220 yards allowed, No. 2 in 2023 with 2,861 yards allowed and No. 4 in 2024 with 3,275 yards allowed.
However, New York's run defense could have been better during that time, its best season coming in 2022 when it allowed 2,068 yards rushing to rank 16th.
And in 2021, the Jets' defensive numbers were tough across the board: No. 32 in yards allowed (6,760), No. 30 in yards passing allowed (4,409) and No. 29 in yards rushing allowed (2,351).
Two notable names Rutenberg coached in New York were linebackers Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley. Williams was an AP All-Pro first-teamer in 2023. Mosley was a Pro Bowler and AP All-Pro second-teamer in 2022.
Prior to the Jets, Rutenberg served as the passing game specialist for the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. He helped their defense finish fourth in pass defense, fifth in total defense and seventh in run defense.
Rutenberg was with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013-19, holding three different positions. He started as the assistant defensive backs coach (2013-15), transitioned to defensive assistant coach (2016-17) and then finished as the assistant linebackers coach (2018-19).
Rutenberg entered the NFL through the then-Washington Redskins, initially as a player personnel intern in 2003 and then an assistant to former head coach Joe Gibbs from 2004-05.
During that 2006-12 gap, Rutenberg worked at the college level, splitting time among UCLA, New Mexico State and the University of San Diego.
The 2025 season will be Rutenberg's 16th as a football coach.
NATE OLLIE
Ollie spent the 2024 season as the Houston Texans assistant defensive line coach, helping lead a unit that allowed 11 rushing touchdowns, fourth-fewest in the league, and tied for the fourth-most sacks with 49. The Texans also boasted the 11th-best run defense, allowing 1,938 yards.
Before joining the Texans, Ollie was the defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts from 2022-23, so leading the position room is not new.
The Colts' run defense wasn't as strong overall – ranking 24th in yards allowed (2,105) and 29th in rushing touchdowns allowed (22). But much like Ollie's front in Houston, the Colts had the fifth-most sacks in 2023 with 51. And according to his coaching bio, the Colts were the only NFL team to record at least five sacks in three or more consecutive games in 2023.
It was a similar story in 2022 — 21st in rushing yards allowed (2,109) and 25th in rushing touchdowns allowed (20), but tying for 10th in sacks with 44.
Prior to the Colts, Ollie served as an assistant defensive line coach with the Jets in 2021 and the Philadelphia Eagles from 2019-20.
The Eagles had the third-best run defense in 2019, with 1,442 yards rushing allowed, but fell to 23rd in 2020, with 2,012 yards rushing allowed. They also recorded the 13th-most (43) and third-most sacks (49), respectively.
Ollie got his coaching start in 2014 at Yorktown Middle School. He then spent 2015-28 at the college level before jumping and staying within the professional ranks.
The 2025 season will be Ollie's 11th as a football coach.
