Alabama is losing its defensive coordinator to the NFL.

Tosh Lupoi is expected to be hired by the Cleveland Browns for a defensive position on new coach Freddie Kitchens’ staff, sources told AL.com.

AL.com had previously reported that Lupoi had interviewed with the Browns and that several sources in the coaching community believed it was likely Lupoi would land with the Browns.

Lupoi was promoted to defensive coordinator last offseason after Jeremy Pruitt left for Tennessee. Known as one of the nation’s top recruiters, Lupoi previously spent three seasons as the Crimson Tide’s outside linebackers coach after initially arriving in Tuscaloosa as an “intern” in 2014.

It continues a massive upheaval of Nick Saban’s coaching staff following a national championship game loss to Clemson on Jan. 7. Since the loss, offensive coordinator Mike Locksley (Maryland), co-offensive coordinator Josh Gattis (Michigan), quarterbacks coach Dan Enos (Miami), offensive line coach Brent Key (Georgia Tech) and now Lupoi have all left for different jobs.

Kitchens, the former Alabama quarterback, had already plucked one college assistant from the state of Alabama. Jody Wright left his job as UAB’s offensive line coach for an offensive assistant job with the Browns. Wright and Lupoi previously worked together at Alabama when Wright was the program’s director of player personnel.

Matt Zenitz is an Alabama and Auburn reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mzenitz.