The Cleveland Browns made a major move this week, officially naming Todd Monken as their new head coach-marking the 19th full-time hire in franchise history. The decision has sparked plenty of conversation, especially around one of the most intriguing young players on the Browns’ roster: quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders, the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, just wrapped up a rookie season that had its fair share of growing pains-1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Those numbers don’t leap off the page, but they do hint at potential. And now, with Monken stepping in, the question becomes: what does this hire mean for Sanders’ development?
Monken brings a wealth of experience to Cleveland, including a reputation for creative offensive schemes and quarterback-friendly systems. But not everyone is sold. Emmanuel Acho made headlines this week with a strongly critical take on Monken’s hiring, questioning whether Sanders-or anyone in the Browns’ locker room-should be excited about playing under him.
“Nothing about Todd Monken as a head man gets me excited,” Acho said on Wednesday’s episode of Speakeasy. “If I’m Shedeur or anybody in that locker room, why am I listening to Todd Monken? What have you won on the NFL level as a head coach?”
Acho’s comments quickly went viral, drawing pushback from across the football world. Former NFL linebacker Will Compton didn’t mince words in his response, urging players not to buy into that kind of narrative.
“For the love of god,” Compton wrote on social media. “Shedeur Sanders, all athletes, and literally everyone that operates on a team for that matter - please do not listen to this or take this advice.”
While the debate raged online, Sanders himself kept things simple. He posted a message to his Instagram Story shortly after the Browns made the hire official: “Time for work.”
That’s the right mindset. Because for Sanders, this offseason is everything.
He’s stepping into a pivotal moment in his young career. The rookie season is in the rearview mirror, and now the real work begins. If he wants to solidify himself as the Browns’ long-term answer at quarterback, he’ll need to make a strong impression-not just on the field, but in the film room, in the locker room, and yes, with Todd Monken and his staff.
Whether or not Monken has a long NFL head coaching résumé isn’t the point right now. What matters is how he connects with his players, how he builds a system around their strengths, and how he leads a franchise that’s been searching for stability at the top for years.
For Sanders, that means embracing the challenge, not running from it. Tuning out a new head coach before a single snap of offseason work is taken would be a misstep-both in perception and in practice. The NFL is all about growth, and that growth often comes from leaning into the uncomfortable, trusting the process, and proving people wrong.
There’s no question Sanders has the tools. Now it’s about refining them.
Monken’s hire gives him a fresh start, a new voice, and a chance to take that next step. If Sanders is serious about becoming the guy in Cleveland, this offseason is where that journey begins.