With the significant reshuffling in the Michigan football coaching staff after Jim Harbaugh’s departure and the departure of some of his assistants, new head coach Sherrone Moore is tasked with rebuilding the team. In this process, Michigan is exploring the possibility of hiring Kansas City Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen as a potential candidate for the defensive coordinator position, as reported by CBS Sports. However, the Wolverines face competition, as Cullen is also being considered as a defensive coordinator prospect by two other NFL teams, the Seahawks and Commanders.
Anticipated to fill the void left by the expected departure of current Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who is likely to follow Jim Harbaugh to the L.A. Chargers in the same position, Joe Cullen emerges as a potential candidate for the defensive coordinator role. Minter’s defense played a pivotal role in Michigan’s recent national championship run, securing the No. 1 ranking in college football. Cullen’s coaching journey began in the college ranks, where he served as defensive coordinator at Richmond and later at Indiana before transitioning to the NFL as the defensive line coach at LSU. His coaching experience also includes stops at Illinois and various NFL teams, including Detroit, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore. In 2021, he held the position of defensive coordinator for Urban Meyer’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Notably, the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs, where Cullen is currently the defensive line coach, ranked second in both yards and points allowed in football.
