by In a move that has the Dawg Pound barking with a mix of intrigue and anxiety, the Cleveland Browns have officially found their new leader. Breaking news confirmed that the Browns hire Todd Monken, snagging the seasoned offensive mastermind directly from their division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Following the firing of Kevin Stefanski after a dismal 5-12 season, the Haslam family didn’t just look for a new coach—they went shopping in their neighbor’s backyard for a proven winner.
A Familiar Face Returns to the Land
This isn’t Todd Monken’s first rodeo in Northeast Ohio, but the stakes are significantly higher this time around. While the Browns hire Todd Monken to lead the entire franchise now, fans remember his 2019 stint as the team’s offensive coordinator under Freddie Kitchens. Since then, Monken has buffed his resume with back-to-back National Championships at Georgia and a successful run in Baltimore that saw Lamar Jackson secure another MVP. Cleveland is hoping that this “Version 2.0” of Monken is the missing piece to solve their offensive identity crisis.
The Offensive Guru’s Daunting Task
The primary reason the Browns hire Todd Monken is simple: the offense has been stuck in neutral for years. Inheriting a unit that averaged a measly 15.8 points per game last season, Monken is tasked with reviving a passing game that has felt stagnant. With the 6th and 24th overall picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, Monken will have the capital to hand-pick his future signal-caller, potentially moving on from the Deshaun Watson era that has largely underperformed.
Todd Monken’s Coaching Pedigree
| Role | Organization | Key Achievement |
| Head Coach | Cleveland Browns (2026) | First NFL HC Opportunity |
| Offensive Coordinator | Baltimore Ravens (2023-25) | No. 1 Total Offense (2024) |
| Offensive Coordinator | Georgia Bulldogs (2020-22) | 2x National Champion |
| Offensive Coordinator | Cleveland Browns (2019) | Developed Nick Chubb (1,494 yards) |
Defensive Drama: The Jim Schwartz Fallout
However, it wouldn’t be a Browns offseason without a side of spicy internal drama. Immediately after the news broke that the Browns hire Todd Monken, reports surfaced that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was “visibly upset” at being passed over for the top job. Schwartz, the architect of one of the league’s most dominant defenses, has reportedly told colleagues he won’t be returning. Losing a top-tier defensive mind just to gain an offensive one is a trade-off that has many analysts questioning the team’s direction.
Why Monken Over the Field?
The search for a new head coach was anything but smooth, with several high-profile candidates reportedly withdrawing their names. Ultimately, the Browns hire Todd Monken because of his “innovative offensive mindset” and “tough, straightforward coaching style,” according to owner Jimmy Haslam. Monken beat out finalists like Nate Scheelhaase and Grant Udinski, largely due to his deep familiarity with the AFC North’s physical style of play and his success in developing elite quarterbacks.
The “120-Day” Plan for Success
Ownership has been vocal about the importance of the next four months, and the Browns hire Todd Monken is just the first domino to fall. With ten total draft picks and a desperate need for a culture shift, Monken doesn’t have the luxury of a slow start. The fan base is hungry, the division is brutal with the likes of Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, and the leash in Cleveland has historically been very short.
Final Verdict: Is He the One?
Whether you love the move or fear the defensive fallout, the Browns hire Todd Monken signals a clear shift toward an offense-first philosophy. Monken is a proven winner at every level, but Cleveland has a way of testing even the most resilient coaches. If he can replicate the explosive scoring he brought to Athens and Baltimore, the Browns might finally stop being the AFC North’s doormat. If not, he’ll just be the 19th name on a very long list of “what ifs.”
