The Cleveland Browns are turning to a familiar face-and a proven offensive mind-to lead their next chapter. On Wednesday, the team officially named Todd Monken as their new head coach, bringing him back to Cleveland with a far different résumé than the one he had when he last walked the halls of Berea.
Monken, who spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, now steps into the top job after orchestrating one of the league’s most dynamic offenses. In 2024, Baltimore led the NFL in both total yards and yards per play, with Monken dialing up a system that maximized Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat capabilities.
That same Jackson won his second MVP under Monken’s guidance in 2023 and followed it up with a career-high 4,172 passing yards and 41 touchdowns in 2024. That’s the kind of offensive firepower the Browns have sorely lacked-they’ve totaled just 35 touchdown passes over the last two seasons combined.
This isn’t Monken’s first stint in Cleveland. He served as offensive coordinator under Freddie Kitchens in 2019, a year that ended in disappointment and a house-cleaning across both the coaching staff and front office. But the Monken returning to Cleveland now is a different coach-seasoned, battle-tested, and fresh off a successful run in Baltimore that reestablished his reputation as one of the NFL’s sharpest offensive minds.
Monken, who turns 60 next week, brings 11 years of NFL coaching experience and a diverse background that includes three seasons as head coach at Southern Miss from 2013 to 2015. He left that job to become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2016, and later spent three years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Georgia, where he helped develop one of college football’s most efficient and balanced attacks.
In a statement, Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam praised Monken’s intelligence, leadership, and offensive innovation, calling him a “strong communicator who values trust with his players, but also accountability and preparation.” That blend of toughness and transparency is something the Browns believe can help stabilize a franchise that’s struggled to find consistency at the head coaching position.
The Browns’ coaching search was extensive. After firing Kevin Stefanski on January 5, Cleveland conducted nine interviews, eventually narrowing the field to five in-person candidates: Monken, current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, and Commanders run game coordinator Anthony Lynn.
The team met with Lynn in South Florida over the weekend, then flew to Southern California to interview Scheelhaase on Monday following the Rams’ NFC Championship Game loss. The committee returned to Cleveland that night and finalized Monken’s hiring by Wednesday.
While Monken emerged as the top choice, Schwartz and Scheelhaase were reportedly among the final contenders. Schwartz, in particular, has built one of the league’s best defenses over the past three seasons, even as the offense struggled to find its footing. Whether Monken retains Schwartz remains to be seen, but it’s a decision that could shape the identity of the team moving forward.
General manager Andrew Berry, who remains in his role after Stefanski’s departure, will now work closely with Monken to rebuild an offense that’s been in flux for years. The Browns cycled through five starting quarterbacks in 2023, four in 2024, and three last season.
Rookie Shedeur Sanders started the final seven games of 2025, going 3-4, but the expectation is that Deshaun Watson will return as the starter in 2026. Watson, who missed all of last season while recovering from a twice-torn right Achilles, enters the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
There’s also work to be done up front and on the perimeter. The Browns may need to retool their offensive line and upgrade the receiving corps to give Monken the tools he needs to implement his system. His track record suggests he can adapt to different quarterback styles and offensive personnel, offering Cleveland some much-needed flexibility as they evaluate long-term investments on that side of the ball.
Berry highlighted Monken’s “direct, demanding and detail-oriented leadership style” as a key fit for a young roster, and noted the lessons Monken learned from working under coaches like John Harbaugh and Kirby Smart as evidence of his readiness to lead an NFL team.
As Monken begins assembling his staff, the Browns will have to comply with the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires at least two in-person interviews with external candidates for offensive and defensive coordinator roles, as well as at least one for quarterbacks coach. Whether Monken decides to call plays himself or delegate that responsibility remains an open question.
One thing is clear: the Browns are betting on Monken’s offensive acumen and leadership to guide them out of a turbulent stretch. With a strong defense already in place and a front office committed to building around him, Monken now has the opportunity-and the challenge-of turning potential into production in Cleveland.