JUST IN:Michigan football’s next defensive coordinator prospect is becoming apparent

Sherrone Moore, the head coach of the Michigan football team, has been busy assembling his coaching staff. He hired a new tight ends coach and special teams coach this week in addition to Kirk Campbell, the offensive coordinator.

But there are still a few significant hires to be made. First and foremost, it would be fantastic if Michigan football could hold onto both Mike Elston and Steve Clinkscale. It would be devastating to lose either of them as they have played important positions in the staff over the last few years.

We wait for now though, as there hasn’t been any official announcement on either. However, a fresh candidate for defensive coordinator appears to be Joe Cullen of the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider.

According to a recent Michigan football Webb DC candidate, Moore and Cullen have communicated and there appears to be “mutual interest.” Although Cullen is currently the Chiefs’ defensive line coach, he has experience as an NFL coordinator that dates back to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2021 campaign. It wasn’t a good ending for Urban Meyer’s first season as head coach.

Cullen, however, ended up in Kansas City. His origins are in college football as well; from 2016 to 2020, he spent five seasons as a part of the Ravens coaching staff before taking over as coordinator in Jacksonville. He was Jesse Minter’s and Mike Macdonald’s employee, so he should be acquainted with the defensive scheme the Wolverines have been using.

Hiring Cullen should enable Michigan football to stick with the defensive scheme that Moore has stated he wants to stick with. If Elston were to depart, Cullen is also regarded as a superb defensive line coach, but I would love to have both on the coaching staff.

Cullen had previously served as Indiana’s defensive coordinator in 2004. In addition to the Jaguars and Chiefs, he has also played for the Lions, Browns, and Bucs. It’s not ideal that the hire could have to wait until after the Super Bowl, which is next week.

Despite the fact that the spring window is still open and Michigan football players have around two weeks to put their name if they choose to leave the program, the Wolverines haven’t had any significant departures through the transfer portal yet.