The Browns Hire Todd Monken as Its Next Head Coach

After an extensive search, the Cleveland Browns have landed on Todd Monken to be the team’s next head coach. This will be Monken’s first stint as an NFL head coach; he has previous college experience with Southern Miss. 

Monken has a long history with the Browns and the AFC North. For the past three seasons, he has served as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator, and in 2019, he was on the Browns' staff in the same position under coach Freddie Kitchens.

In between that, he was at the University of Georgia as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helping lead the Bulldogs to two national championships. 

Monken, who turns 60 next week, beat out finalists Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. However, Schwartz is still under contract with the team and could stay in charge of the defence.

With the Ravens, Monken had MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson at his disposal. In Cleveland, Monken's quarterback room will consist of Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. However, that room could evolve as the Browns hold the sixth and 24th draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.  

Statement from Dee and Jimmy Haslam:

"We are very excited to name Todd Monken the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Todd is highly intelligent, and his experienced, innovative offensive mindset has been at the forefront of constructing productive and successful offenses at the NFL and collegiate level over the last 20 years. He is an outstanding leader and has a clear vision to lead our team as a strong communicator who values trust with his players but also accountability and preparation. In our committee's exhaustive reference work on Todd, his commitment to player development was evident, and his tough and straightforward coaching is respected by the players and the coaches he's worked with, putting our team in a position to succeed while developing our players to maximize their talents. We welcome Todd, Terri, and the rest of the Monken family back to the Browns and look forward to him establishing the winning culture that will lead our team to the success our fans so deserve."

Statement from Andrew Berry:

"Todd has a varied and diverse background that we found as a particularly appealing match for our team at this stage in its life cycle. He has a direct, demanding, and detail-oriented leadership style that will create a great incubator for a young team. His successful offensive track record at both the pro and college level with a variety of offensive systems and QB skill sets will allow maximum flexibility as we make several, long-term investments on that side of the ball. The lessons he learned from John Harbaugh and Kirby Smart as well as his demonstrated track record turning around Southern Miss have shown us that he has a full understanding of what the position requires and the capacity to execute. We cannot wait to get started and we welcome Todd, Terri and Travis to Cleveland."

For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.

Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.