It’s been a whirlwind week for Shedeur Sanders - and it could be a defining one in his young NFL career. The Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback not only earned a spot on the AFC roster for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, but he also found out who’ll be calling the shots from the sideline next season. Cleveland has officially hired Todd Monken as the team’s new head coach, marking a new chapter for a franchise that’s still searching for long-term stability under center.
Sanders, the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, didn’t step into the starting role until mid-November, taking over in a tough divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. From there, he saw extended action to close out the season, finishing with a 56.6% completion rate, 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but they also don’t tell the full story of a rookie thrown into the fire.
What Sanders did show was growth - and a willingness to learn on the fly. “I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now,” Sanders said when asked about his performance.
“So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there. But like, that’s not in my hands.
Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
That kind of self-awareness - paired with the quiet confidence he’s known for - will be key as he prepares for a critical offseason. Sanders knows that if he wants to be under center in Week 1, he’ll need to make a strong impression on Monken, a coach with a proven offensive pedigree.
Monken’s arrival in Cleveland is a significant development. He becomes the 19th full-time head coach in franchise history, and the Browns are hoping he brings some of the offensive magic that made the Baltimore Ravens one of the league’s most dangerous teams during his tenure as offensive coordinator from 2023 to 2025.
In his first year with the Ravens, Monken helped guide Lamar Jackson to an MVP season. The following year, Baltimore led the NFL in total offense, thanks in large part to Monken’s creative and aggressive rushing schemes. Over his three-year stretch with the Ravens, they averaged a league-best 166.9 rushing yards per game - a testament to both Monken’s system and his ability to tailor it to his personnel.
That’s where things get interesting for Sanders. While he’s not the same type of runner as Jackson, Sanders does bring mobility and a strong arm to the table - tools that Monken has shown he can maximize. The question now is whether the Browns see Sanders as the long-term answer at quarterback, or whether they’ll look elsewhere in the offseason.
For his part, Sanders seems ready to get to work. Shortly after the Browns made Monken’s hiring official, Sanders reposted the announcement on Instagram with a simple message: “Time for work.”
That mindset is going to serve him well. With a new coaching staff, a full offseason ahead, and a chance to compete for the starting job, Sanders has an opportunity to take a big step forward in Year 2.
The tools are there. The confidence is there.
Now it’s about putting it all together - and showing Todd Monken that he’s the guy to lead this offense into the future.