The Cleveland Browns have found their next head coach-and it’s Todd Monken. The former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator is heading across the AFC North to take the reins in Cleveland.
It’s a move that caught some off guard, especially considering the buzz around younger, more innovative candidates. On paper, it’s not a flashy hire.
It doesn’t scream “new era” or “bold direction.” But it’s a hire.
And right now, that’s where the Browns stand.
The real story, though, isn’t just about who got the job. It’s about how the Browns got there. And once again, all eyes are on owner Jimmy Haslam.
Let’s be clear: NFL owners are powerful figures. They sign the checks, set the tone, and ultimately shape the direction of their franchises.
But with that power comes responsibility-and restraint. And Haslam’s track record suggests that the latter is still a work in progress.
This isn’t the first time Haslam has been connected to a coaching search that went sideways. Back in 2016, the Browns’ analytics team reportedly had Sean McDermott circled as a top candidate.
Instead, Haslam went with Hue Jackson. We all know how that turned out.
Fast forward to 2019: Kevin Stefanski was in the mix, supported by Paul DePodesta’s data-driven approach. But Haslam backed then-GM John Dorsey’s preference for Freddie Kitchens.
That misstep was corrected a year later, but the pattern was already in place.
Now, with Andrew Berry firmly in charge of the front office and known for his methodical, forward-thinking approach, the Browns had a chance to follow a clear, modern process. Berry lined up interviews with some of the league’s brightest young minds, including Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udiniski.
Udiniski ultimately chose to stay in Jacksonville, but Scheelhaase remained a strong contender. In fact, the Browns reportedly spent over seven hours with him during the interview process-a clear sign of serious interest and alignment between candidate and front office.
But once again, ownership stepped in.
Reports indicate that Haslam was insistent on retaining defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, even if it meant complicating the head coach search. For younger candidates like Scheelhaase, that kind of mandate can be a deal-breaker. Being forced to inherit a staff member-especially one who may not align with your vision-limits autonomy and sends the wrong message about trust and authority.
And that’s the heart of the issue: trust. If you’re paying a general manager like Berry to build your football operation, you have to let him do his job.
Otherwise, what’s the point? You can’t expect to attract top-tier coaching talent if the message from ownership is, “We want you-but only if you’re OK with the terms we’ve already set.”
Monken, for his part, is a seasoned coach with a strong offensive résumé. He’s worked with high-powered attacks and knows how to scheme against tough defenses.
But the concern isn’t about his ability to call plays. It’s about the process that led to his hiring-and what that process says about the internal dynamics in Cleveland.
Fans want a winner. Haslam wants a winner.
Everyone in the building wants the same thing. But success in today’s NFL requires alignment from top to bottom-ownership, front office, coaching staff, and players all pulling in the same direction.
When that alignment breaks down, it doesn’t matter how talented your roster is or how smart your playbook looks.
For the Browns, this coaching hire could have been a turning point-a chance to show the league that they’re ready to trust the process and let their football minds lead the way. Instead, it feels like another chapter in a familiar story: a promising plan, disrupted by interference at the top.
Monken will now be tasked with navigating not just the challenges of the AFC North, but also the internal politics that have too often derailed progress in Cleveland. If he succeeds, it’ll be a testament to his experience and adaptability. But for the Browns to truly turn the page, ownership has to learn when to lead-and when to get out of the way.