Todd Monken Reflects on Ravens Tenure, Looks Ahead to Browns Challenge
Todd Monken stood at the podium Tuesday, officially introduced as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns. But before fully turning the page to his next chapter, he took a moment to address some lingering questions about his previous stop in Baltimore-specifically, his relationship with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Monken didn’t shy away from the topic. In fact, he met it head-on.
“First of all, Lamar and my relationship was awesome,” Monken said. “We get along great.”
That’s a strong statement, especially in light of recent reports suggesting tension between Monken and the Ravens locker room. According to those reports, some within the organization saw Monken as increasingly distant and less collaborative during his second season as offensive coordinator. There were also frustrations voiced about his decision-making throughout the 2025 campaign.
But Monken didn’t dwell on the noise. Instead, he acknowledged the team’s lack of success in 2025 and took ownership of the struggles.
“We didn’t have the success last year, for a number of reasons, and it doesn’t matter. Fact,” Monken said.
“You know, [Lamar] was banged up - I would have loved to have seen that he’d been healthy the whole year, but he was not. Doesn’t matter.
We, at times, didn’t give ourselves the best chance to be successful. And you got to own that.
That’s part of what we do.”
That’s the kind of accountability that resonates-especially in a league where finger-pointing can be the easy way out. Monken made it clear: injuries played a role, execution fell short, and as a coach, he has to wear that.
Jackson, who had thrived under Monken in 2023 with an MVP season, was limited to just 13 starts in 2025 due to hamstring and back issues. The Ravens missed the playoffs, and shortly after, longtime head coach John Harbaugh was let go. Amid the fallout, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti publicly stated that Jackson had no issues with either Monken or Harbaugh.
Still, Monken knows perception matters. And he’s not brushing off the criticism-he’s using it as fuel.
“I think I didn’t get to where I’m at, as a human being or a coach, without owning and then fighting like hell to fixing,” Monken said. “And I think that’s important in a relationship. I think that’s important in life.”
That mindset will serve him well in Cleveland, where the expectations are high and the quarterback situation is anything but settled.
Enter Shedeur Sanders.
The Browns’ young quarterback is seen by many as the future of the franchise, but Monken didn’t hand him the starting job on Tuesday. Not yet. With veteran Deshaun Watson still in the building, 2025 rookie Dillon Gabriel on the roster, and the possibility of bringing in another arm, Monken made it clear that nothing is set in stone.
He’s not rushing to name a starter, and that’s telling. It speaks to a coach who’s learned from the highs and lows of his past-who’s not just looking for talent under center, but for leadership, resilience, and the right fit for what he wants to build in Cleveland.
Monken’s arrival marks a fresh start for the Browns. But it’s also a continuation of a journey that’s shaped him through success and adversity alike. If his words on Tuesday are any indication, he’s not just ready for the challenge-he’s embracing it.