Todd Monken sold himself to team owner Jimmy Haslam and Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Now comes the hard part for Monken — convincing a weary, skeptical fan base that he is the right choice to be the head coach of a franchise that has won only one playoff game in 27 years. A franchise that has had just three winning seasons — 2002, 2020 and 2023 — since 1999. A franchise that hasn’t boasted back-to-back winning seasons since it strung four together from 1986-89.
There is no question Monken, 59, has a brilliant offensive mind. He proved it as offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia when he helped the Bulldogs win the CFP national championship in 2021 and 2022. He spent the last three seasons as OC and calling plays for the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson passed for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdown passes in 2024.
The head coach of an NFL team has to command the respect of all 53 players, plus his coaching staff and front office personnel. Maybe Monken can lead the entire building at 76 Lou Groza Boulevard. But he is going to have a difficult time getting defensive players on his side.
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was a finalist for the job. Haslam and Berry decided Monken would be better. Schwartz is steaming mad because he was snubbed, according to reports — angry enough to want to leave the Browns despite being under contract for 2026.
Jim Schwartz directs a drill June 6. (Ron Schwane – The Associated Press)
Berry and Haslam had a long time to think about the ramifications of their decision before they announced it on Jan. 28. Browns players on offense know Schwartz is a demanding but fair taskmaster. They would have had no problem following Schwartz as their leader. They saw for three years how Schwartz got the best from his players on defense.
“I don’t know what’s going to be in the future,” Myles Garrett said the Friday before the season ended. “Would I like to play under Jim? Would I like to keep the team and for us to improve? Absolutely. But these are things that are handled by people who sign my checks, so they make bigger decisions than I can account for.
“So I’m going to allow them to do what they do — give my opinions if they ask for it. And I got to rock with whoever they have here. But I love Jim, and I love playing for him.”
Warming up to Monken could be difficult because he does not exude fire the way Schwartz does.
Schwartz has already been linked to the defensive coordinator job with the 49ers. He might take defensive assistants with him. Linebackers coach Jason Tarver and defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire would be sorely missed.
The Rams have requested an interview with Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone. The Browns need a new offensive coordinator because Tommy Rees left to be the Falcons’ OC under Kevin Stefanski.
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No one would describe being an assistant coach for the Browns as a springboard to job elevations in the NFL. Assembling a quality coaching staff could be difficult for Monken, although he has already taken a positive first step by hiring George Warhop as offensive line coach. Warhop coached the offensive line for the Ravens for the last two years.
Monken’s track record on offense makes him a better candidate than Schwartz to get more from quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who in 2026 will get a fresh start in his second NFL season. The Browns still haven’t given up on Deshaun Watson. Watson, acquired in the disastrous trade with the Texans 46 months ago, hasn’t played well since 2020, when he was in Houston.
Monken is taking over a team that went 8-26 the last two seasons and an offense in total disrepair. The Browns are more than one offseason away from being contenders.
The 19th full-time head coach in Browns history, the 11th since 1999, might not be introduced to Cleveland at a news conference in Berea until early next week. I just hope Monken doesn’t make a reference to the “rich Browns legacy.” The Browns team that had a legacy moved to Baltimore 33 years ago.
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