CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have officially found their man. After a 24-day search that kept the Dawg Pound on edge, the organization finalized a deal Wednesday to name former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their next head coach. Monken, who previously served as Cleveland’s OC in 2019, returns to Northeast Ohio with one clear mission: salvage a unit that bottomed out in 2025.
A Return to the Land
The move comes as a blow to the rival Ravens but a necessary injection of experience for a Browns team that struggled to find its identity. Cleveland finished a dismal 2025 campaign with a 5-12 record, ranking near the basement of the league in nearly every offensive metric. The team averaged a measly 16.4 points per game, finishing 31st in scoring and 30th in total yards. By tapping Monken, General Manager Andrew Berry is prioritizing a proven play-caller who knows the AFC North trenches.
Monken beat out internal favorite Jim Schwartz and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase for the job. While Schwartz led the NFL’s No. 1 defense in several categories last season, the front office decided that the “strategic pivot” required an offensive mastermind. Monken brings a resume highlighted by two national titles at Georgia and a 2024 season in Baltimore where the Ravens’ offense ranked in the top five in scoring.
“This city deserves a winner, and we’re going to build an offense that reflects the grit and toughness of Cleveland. It’s about more than just plays; it’s about execution and winning the North.” — Todd Monken, Browns Head Coach
Quarterback Chaos and What’s Next
Monken’s first order of business involves the most expensive headache in sports: the quarterback room. With Deshaun Watson still on the books and young signal-callers Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel vying for snaps, the new coach must decide who leads the charge in 2026. The Browns hold two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, providing Monken with the capital to reshape the roster immediately.
The departure of Kevin Stefanski to the Atlanta Falcons earlier this month left a void in leadership, but Monken’s aggressive, vertical passing style offers a stark contrast to the previous regime. Fans can expect a higher tempo and a heavy emphasis on downfield shots—a philosophy that made Jameis Winston a 5,000-yard passer under Monken in Tampa Bay. The schedule won’t be kind, but for a franchise that has lived in the cellar for too long, Monken represents a calculated gamble on a high-octane future.
