MIKE RUTENBERG returns for his fourth season as the Jets linebackers coach, after initially joining the New York Jets as part of Robert Saleh's first staff in 2021. For Rutenberg, 2024 marks his 15th season in the NFL and fourth as a position coach.

This past season (2023), Rutenberg helped linebacker Quincy Williams earn First-Team All Pro and Team MVP honors, becoming the only First-Team All Pro on defense who joined his team via waiver claim since 2000. Additionally, under Rutenberg's lead, Williams became one of six players since 2015 to record at least 100 tackles (139), 10 tackles for loss (15), and 10 passes defensed (10) on the season.

Team captain C.J. Mosley recorded his third consecutive season with at least 150 tackles (152) in 2023, finishing eighth in the League. Rutenberg has helped him become one of just 11 players since 2000 with 150 tackles in at least two consecutive seasons (2022-23) and one of just five with 150+ in three straight (2021-23).

During the 2022 season, Rutenberg coached a duo in Mosley and Williams who became one of eight linebacker pairs in the NFL to reach record 100+ tackles and the only duo with back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons, after doing so in 2021 as well.

Rutenberg helped Mosley reach his fifth Pro Bowl selection and first as a Jet, in addition to receiving Second-Team All-Pro honors. Mosley became one of only four players in the NFL last season to record 12 games with nine+ tackles. Additionally, his 158 tackles on the year marked his sixth season registering at least 100+ tackles, one of only five active players to do so.

With Rutenberg's lead, Williams became one of four players in the NFL last season with 200+ tackles, 5.0+ sacks, five+ passes defensed, and three+ forced fumbles.

With the Jets coaching in the 2022 Senior Bowl, Rutenberg served as the National Team's defensive coordinator.

In his first season with the Jets (2021), Rutenberg saw career years from Pro Bowl veteran Mosley and Williams, a third-year player claimed by the Jets prior to the start of the regular season. The pair became one of just eight linebacker tandems in 2021 with 100+ tackles each.

Mosley, who returned after opting out of the 2020 season and missing all but two games the year before was a Pro Bowl alternate and Team MVP after he finished fourth in the league with a single-season best 168 tackles. Williams, who entered 2021 with 18 games played (eight starts) in his first two seasons, posted single-season bests in tackles (107), sacks (2.0), passes defensed (five) and tackles for loss (nine), becoming one of just five players in 2021 with 100+ tackles, nine+ TFLs and five+ PDs.

Prior to joining the Jets, Rutenberg was the passing game specialist (2020) with the 49ers. In his only season with San Francisco, he helped the defense finish fourth in passing defense while also ranking in the top 10 in both completion percentage and passer rating allowed.

Coaching college football for seven seasons, first with UCLA (2006-08) and then with New Mexico State (2009-12), Rutenberg was named the defensive coordinator at the University of San Diego (2013) before he returned to the NFL with the Jaguars initially as the assistant defensive backs coach (2013-15), then as a defensive assistant (2016-17), before serving as the assistant linebackers coach (2018-19).

Rutenberg entered the league with Washington, initially as a player personnel intern (2013), before working with Head Coach Joe Gibbs as football assistant to the head coach.

A graduate of Cornell who played Spring Football, Rutenberg and his wife, Stacey, have a daughter, Laney, and a son, Luke.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets | 2021-Present

Linebackers - 2021-Present

Senior Bowl Defensive Coordinator/LBs - 2022

San Francisco 49ers | 2020

Passing Game Specialist - 2020

Jacksonville Jaguars | 2013-19

Assistant Linebackers - 2018-19

Defensive Assistant - 2016-17

Assistant Defensive Backs - 2013-15

New Mexico State | 2009-12

Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs - 2012

Defensive Backs - 2009-11

UCLA | 2006-08

Graduate Assistant/Defense - 2007-08

Intern - 2006

Washington Football Team | 2003-05

Assistant to the Head Coach (Football) - 2004-05

Player Personnel Intern - 2003