The NFL coaching carousel is still spinning, but one more team has locked in its next leader.
The Cleveland Browns have made their decision, hiring Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their new head coach. The move wraps up a nearly month-long search and signals a clear direction for the franchise - choosing an offensive-minded leader over in-house defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. With Monken at the helm, the Browns are banking on innovation and offensive consistency to take them to the next level.
Monken’s hire brings the number of head coaching vacancies filled this cycle to eight. But the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders are still deep in the process.
Both teams - who hold two of the top three picks in the upcoming NFL Draft - began their coaching searches immediately after the regular season ended on January 5. Now, weeks later, they appear to be in the final stages of interviews, but no official hires have been made.
Meanwhile, the coordinator market has been just as active.
In Green Bay, there’s a major shift happening on defense. The Packers have brought in Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator, and one of his first moves is adding Bobby Babich to the staff. Babich spent the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, and his arrival adds another experienced voice to a defense that’s looking to take a step forward.
But the offensive side of the ball in Green Bay could see movement as well. Quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion, a rising name in coaching circles, has emerged as a top target for the Philadelphia Eagles in their search for a new offensive coordinator. Mannion’s work with the Packers’ young quarterback group hasn’t gone unnoticed, and Philly seems intrigued by what he could bring to their offensive identity.
Elsewhere, Jim Leonhard - a Wisconsin native and former head coach at the University of Wisconsin - continues to be in the mix for NFL defensive coordinator roles. Known for his sharp defensive mind and leadership qualities, Leonhard recently interviewed for another DC position as he looks to make his mark at the next level.
With head coach hires wrapping up and coordinator spots filling fast, teams are racing to finalize their staffs before the draft prep kicks into high gear. The decisions made now - from top to bottom - will shape the direction of these franchises for years to come.