The Cleveland Browns made a major move this offseason, naming Todd Monken as their next head coach - and the fanbase is split right down the middle on how to feel about it.
According to a recent fan poll, 51% of Browns fans expressed disappointment with the hire, while 49% were on board in some capacity. That’s as close to a coin flip as it gets, and it speaks to the complicated emotions surrounding this decision.
Dig a little deeper, though, and the numbers tell a more nuanced story. Only 10% of fans were fully enthusiastic about Monken taking the reins.
Meanwhile, 39% said they didn’t necessarily want Monken as the top choice, but they still supported the hire. That’s an important distinction - this isn’t a case of outright rejection.
It’s more about expectations not aligning with the final result.
The frustration among fans seems less about Monken himself and more about the process that led to his hiring. This year’s coaching carousel was one of the busiest in recent memory, with a record number of vacancies and several high-profile candidates available.
From the outside looking in, it appeared that many of those top-tier names weren’t interested in coming to Cleveland. That stung - especially for a fanbase that had started to warm up to the idea of landing a young, offensive-minded innovator to lead the next phase of the franchise.
Instead, the Browns pivoted to Monken, a name with plenty of experience but not necessarily the buzz that fans were hoping for. And while Monken brings a strong offensive pedigree, his hiring has left some wondering about the direction of the team - particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where questions still linger about who will be calling the shots and how the staff will come together.
At the end of the day, Browns fans aren’t necessarily anti-Monken. The disappointment is rooted in a larger sense of missed opportunity and a coaching search that felt, to many, like another swing-and-miss from the front office. Now, it’s on Monken and the rest of the staff - however it shapes up - to prove that this hire can steady the ship and push Cleveland forward.
For a franchise that’s been desperate for consistency and direction, the hope is that the results on the field will eventually bring the fanbase back together. But for now, the jury’s still out - and the Browns have some convincing to do.