There’s always been a certain gravitational pull in Cleveland when it comes to hometown ties - a belief, sometimes unspoken but deeply felt, that if a coach or player has roots in Northeast Ohio, they’ll "get it." The grit, the grind, the emotional rollercoaster that is being a Browns fan. It’s not a requirement, of course, but there’s something about that local connection that just hits different.
Whether by design or coincidence, new head coach Todd Monken is leaning into that sentiment in a big way as he builds out his staff. The Browns’ recent coaching hires read like a Who’s Who of Northeast Ohio football alumni.
Take Bobby Johnson, the new assistant offensive line coach. He played high school ball at Archbishop Hoban in Akron and continued on to Miami University.
Offensive coordinator Travis Switzer and offensive pass game coordinator Danny Breyer both played college ball at the University of Akron. Tight ends coach Jeff Blasko?
He got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Akron as well.
And now, Monken may be adding another local to the mix - and this one could be a major piece of the puzzle on the defensive side of the ball.
The Browns have reportedly requested permission to interview Jonathan Cooley for their vacant defensive coordinator position. Cooley has spent the past two seasons as the defensive pass game coordinator with the Carolina Panthers, and his coaching résumé is steeped in Ohio football.
He was a four-year letterman at John Carroll University, then started his coaching journey at Bluffton University in 2012. From there, he returned to John Carroll to coach the secondary, followed by a stint at Kent State in 2018, and then the University of Akron in 2019 as the defensive backs coach. If there’s a map of Ohio football, Cooley’s been all over it.
But let’s be clear: this isn’t just about local ties. Around the league, Cooley is earning a reputation as one of the most intriguing young defensive minds in the game. A 2025 feature on the Panthers' team site described him as a coach with a “creative muscle that must be stretched,” whose obsession with football fuels everything he does.
That intensity shows up in how he coaches - and how players respond to him. Panthers cornerback Chau Smith-Wade didn’t hold back when describing Cooley’s impact.
“Jonathan Cooley is going to coach his ass off,” Smith-Wade said. “He’s completely invested in his craft, and you see it every day.
When he talks about football, he lights up - like he’s almost insane with it. His passion, his understanding, his ability to simplify the game - I’ve never seen anything like it.”
That kind of energy could be exactly what the Browns need on defense. With elite talents like Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and rising stars like Carson Schwesinger on the roster, the right coordinator could unlock another level for this unit - one that’s already shown flashes of dominance.
Cooley’s combination of football IQ, communication skills, and relentless drive make him an intriguing fit. He’s not just a local guy. He’s a coach on the rise, and if Cleveland brings him in, it won’t be because of where he’s from - it’ll be because of where he can take this defense.