Todd Monken hasn’t coached a single down yet for the Cleveland Browns, but the early reviews are glowing-and they’re coming from people who know what elite football looks like.
Kirby Smart, the head coach of the back-to-back national champion Georgia Bulldogs, worked side-by-side with Monken from 2020 to 2022. That stretch?
It was the most dominant run Georgia football has seen in decades. And Monken, the offensive coordinator at the time, was a massive part of it.
Smart didn’t hold back when asked about his former OC’s jump to the NFL sidelines.
“Todd brought an exceptional level of professionalism and creativity to our program,” Smart said. “His ability to develop quarterbacks and craft game plans tailored to our players’ strengths was instrumental to our success.
What we accomplished wouldn’t have been possible without his impact. We’re incredibly excited for Todd and Terri.”
That’s a strong endorsement from a coach who’s built one of college football’s true modern dynasties. And it speaks volumes about Monken’s football mind-not just in terms of X’s and O’s, but in how he connects with players and builds systems around their skill sets.
Monken’s reputation as a quarterback developer and offensive architect is well-earned. At Georgia, he helped turn Stetson Bennett from a walk-on into a national title-winning quarterback. His offenses were balanced, explosive, and adaptable-traits that should serve him well in Cleveland as he takes the reins of a roster with playoff aspirations.
There’s been some noise online about coaches “not liking Monken,” but those whispers don’t seem to hold much weight among those who’ve actually worked with him. In fact, Monken is surrounding himself with familiar faces as he builds his staff in Cleveland. He’s bringing along two assistants from his time in Baltimore: George Warhop and Travis Switzer, the latter a proud Akron alum.
Warhop brings decades of NFL experience, particularly on the offensive line, while Switzer has earned respect for his attention to detail and player development. It’s a signal that Monken knows exactly the type of football culture he wants to instill in Cleveland-and he’s not wasting time putting the pieces in place.
It’s still early in the Monken era, but if the past is any indication-and if voices like Kirby Smart’s carry the weight they should-Browns fans have every reason to be optimistic. Monken isn’t just bringing a playbook to Cleveland. He’s bringing a proven formula for building winners.