Todd Monken’s first run as an NFL head coach has already given the Browns something they haven’t had in a while: a voice young players seem willing to follow.
The 60-year-old arrived in Cleveland as something of a surprise hire, especially after replacing the much younger Kevin Stefanski. But the early read from inside the building is that Monken’s age hasn’t been a barrier at all. If anything, it’s part of the appeal.
On the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN Browns beat writer Daniel Oyefusi laid out why Monken is landing with a roster that’s expected to be among the youngest in the NFL.
"So he’s a disciplinarian," Oyefusi said. "You hear him at practice.
He lost his voice one time in minicamp, because he was yelling so much. But then he has a new way of thinking about the game as an offensive-minded head coach, the way that he interacts - he’s 60 years old, but he can interact with these young 21-, 22-, 23-year-olds that are fresh out of college.
So they love that mixture, and I think that the players are definitely gravitating to the way he coaches them, and how hard he is on them."
That blend - hard-nosed and hands-on, but still relatable - has shown up throughout training camp. Monken is constantly in the middle of it, talking through the play just run or walking a player through a better way to handle an individual drill. He keeps coming back to the same point, too: winning is the endgame.
That message matters because the Browns still have plenty to sort out before that goal feels realistic. Last year’s group won five games after the Browns won just three in 2024.
The quarterback battle remains front and center, with the competition mainly between second-year player Shedeur Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson. Up front, the offensive line is another work in progress, with most of the linemen expected to be new to the team. The recently drafted Spencer Fano is likely to open as the left tackle.
If there’s one area that gives Monken a steadier foundation, it’s the defense. That group has the most experience and talent on the roster, and the Browns will need it to help keep games manageable. The secondary in particular got a boost when cornerback Denzel Ward and safety Grant Delpit both signed extensions.
For now, though, one of the clearest themes of camp is how quickly so many of the Browns’ young players have bought into Monken’s old-school approach. There’s no guarantee that connection turns into wins right away, but it’s already become one of the main storylines in Cleveland.
In Other News...
Browns Still Have One Problem That Could Derail Todd Monken's Plan
Todd Monken arrives with a fresh mandate and a young Browns roster that has enough promise around it to make the next step feel realistic. His message has centered on accountability and execution, a clean football idea that usually sounds best when a team can trust the most important spot on the field. Cleveland has spent the offseason building around its strengths and hoping the new coaching staff can sharpen what already exists.
The problem is that the quarterback picture still hangs over everything else. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson remain the main options, and neither has locked down the job as camp approaches. The Browns also stood pat on the veteran market this offseason, betting that better weapons and better coaching will be enough to lift the position rather than chasing outside help. If that gamble doesn't pay off quickly, Monken's plan could get tested before it ever really gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Camp Is Already Highlighting A Bigger Story Than QB Battle
The quarterback competition in Berea has drawn plenty of attention, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders sharing the spotlight as Browns training camp unfolds in 2026. But as camp gets rolling, the bigger picture is starting to form around everything else happening on the field and around it, from the early work on the roster to the kind of details that make August feel like its own little season.
Todd Monken has given the sessions a little extra life with his press conferences, while the kickers, the fan seating setup and the autograph lines have all become part of the daily rhythm. There is also the Puppy Pound adoption event adding some lighter texture to camp, which says plenty about how many layers there are to watch here before the Browns even get to the real questions under center. [Read more 🡒]