The winds of change are blowing once again in Cleveland. After four seasons under Kevin Stefanski - including a Coach of the Year award and a playoff win that briefly reignited hope - the Browns are turning the page.
Jimmy Haslam, long one of Stefanski’s most vocal supporters, made the move many saw coming after two straight underwhelming seasons. Now, with Todd Monken set to become the 19th head coach in franchise history, Haslam isn’t just signaling a new direction - he’s making it clear that he expects results, and fast.
At a recent press conference introducing Monken, Haslam didn’t mince words. In fact, he took a not-so-subtle swipe at the team’s recent on-field product - and possibly at Stefanski himself - when referencing longtime Browns columnist Terry Pluto: “Do I expect we will win more games?
I do. And I think we’ll have a better football team.
And I think it’ll be - what does Terry say? They’re ugly to watch.
We’re not gonna be ugly to watch.”
That’s about as pointed as it gets from an NFL owner. And while Haslam didn’t mention Stefanski by name, the implication was loud and clear: the brand of football Cleveland played over the past two seasons simply wasn’t good enough - not in the standings, and not on the screen.
Let’s be honest - the Browns offense under Stefanski had grown stale. For a coach once praised as an offensive innovator, the unit struggled to find rhythm, identity, or consistency.
Injuries and quarterback instability certainly played a role, but at the end of the day, the buck stops with the head coach. The Browns managed just eight wins over the past two seasons - a steep drop-off from the promise of Stefanski’s early tenure.
Still, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Stefanski did what he could with a roster that faced its fair share of adversity, and there’s a case to be made that some of the blame should be shared with GM Andrew Berry and the front office.
But in the NFL, results matter. And when a team stagnates - or worse, regresses - leadership changes are inevitable.
Now, Stefanski is off to Atlanta, where he’s already begun assembling a familiar cast of former Browns to join him. That move has only added fuel to the narrative that Cleveland may have been the problem, not the coach. It’s a storyline that Stefanski will no doubt be eager to flip in his favor - and one that could hang over Haslam and the Browns if Monken doesn’t deliver.
But Haslam is betting big on a fresh start. Todd Monken, known for his aggressive, creative offensive mind, is being handed the keys to a team that still boasts talent on both sides of the ball.
The expectation isn’t just improvement - it’s transformation. Haslam wants a Browns team that’s not only competitive, but compelling.
No more “ugly” football. No more excuses.
For Browns fans, the hope is that Monken can unlock the potential that’s been buried beneath years of inconsistency. For Haslam, the hope is that this hire finally gets Cleveland over the hump. And for Stefanski, the next chapter begins in Atlanta - with plenty to prove, and maybe a little extra motivation from the city he just left behind.
One thing’s for sure: the Browns’ offseason just got a lot more interesting.