On Friday, the Atlanta Falcons announced the hiring of defensive coaches Nate Ollie and Mike
Rutenberg. The hirings accompany last week’s announcement of Jeff Ulbrich as the team’s
defensive coordinator.
Ollie, who will replace Jay Rodgers as the team’s defensive line coach, will enter his 12th
season coaching in the NFL. He has been a part of coaching staffs that have produced
productive defensive lines in Philadelphia, Houston, New York (Jets), and Indianapolis. Most
notably, as the defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, Ollie oversaw a defensive
line that recorded 46 of the team’s 51 total sacks, a Colts record since their move to Indianapolis
in 1984.
Rutenberg will serve as Atlanta’s defensive passing game coordinator and is entering his 23rd
season as an NFL coach. He got his first job as an assistant as an intern with Washington and
most recently served under Ulbrich as the New York Jets linebackers coach from 2021-2024.
Rutenberg oversaw the development of Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood and helped the
Jets finish top five against the pass in each of the last three seasons.
Ollie and Rutenberg will look to help the Falcons improve defensively in 2025.