The Cleveland Browns are turning the page - again. On Wednesday, they named Todd Monken their 19th full-time head coach in franchise history.
For Monken, this marks a return to familiar territory. He was the Browns’ offensive coordinator back in 2019.
Now, after more than a decade in the NFL and some high-profile success at both the pro and college levels, he’s getting his first shot at leading an NFL team.
Let’s be clear: Monken’s résumé is no joke. He’s spent the last three seasons dialing up plays for the Baltimore Ravens, where his offensive system helped Lamar Jackson secure a second MVP award and guided the team to the No. 1 overall offense for the first time in franchise history.
From 2023 to 2025, the Ravens were a nightmare for defenses - top five in rushing yards, total yards from scrimmage, and points per game. That’s not a fluke.
That’s scheme meeting talent, and Monken was at the center of it.
Before Baltimore, Monken made waves in Tampa Bay from 2016 to 2018, coordinating an offense that put up serious numbers. And Browns fans might remember his earlier stint in Cleveland, where he helped both Nick Chubb and Baker Mayfield post career-best seasons.
He’s also got national championship hardware from his time at Georgia, where he turned the Bulldogs into an offensive juggernaut en route to back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. Add in his work rebuilding Southern Miss into a competitive program, and you’ve got a coach who knows how to build - and rebuild - on both sides of the college-pro divide.
But not everyone is convinced this hire will move the needle.
Radio host Craig Carton didn’t mince words on his show, suggesting Monken may be walking into a situation with one hand tied behind his back. According to Carton, Monken wasn’t given the freedom to pick his own defensive coordinator - a crucial piece for any first-time head coach trying to set a tone and establish a staff that reflects his vision.
“Obviously, when you’ve been a long-time coordinator and you’ve never had a chance to be a head coach in the NFL, whatever the owner says, you say, ‘I can make that work,’” Carton said. “And that’s what he did.”
Carton also didn’t hold back when discussing the Browns’ quarterback situation, bluntly stating that despite the coaching change, Cleveland’s problems under center remain unresolved.
Meanwhile, the coaching shakeup appears to have caused some internal friction. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who many believed was a strong candidate to replace Kevin Stefanski, was reportedly “visibly upset” upon learning he wouldn’t be promoted. According to reports, Schwartz has told people inside the organization that he won’t be returning, even though he’s still under contract and the Browns want to keep him.
That tension speaks to a broader philosophical shift in Cleveland. In choosing Monken, the Browns clearly prioritized an offensive-minded coach - a trend we’ve seen across the league - and that decision may have come at the expense of internal harmony.
So where does this leave the Browns?
They’ve got a new head coach with a proven track record of offensive innovation and player development. They’ve got a roster with talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
But they’re also facing key questions: Can Monken elevate the quarterback play? Can he lead a locker room that may already be feeling some friction?
And can he do all of this while working with a defensive coordinator he didn’t choose?
Todd Monken’s coaching chops aren’t in question. What remains to be seen is whether the Browns - a franchise still searching for stability - can finally give him the runway to succeed.