Browns Hire Todd Monken as New Head Coach

Experienced coordinator takes over Cleveland's offense, but hiring process raises concerns

Feb. 7, 2026 at 7:55am

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The Cleveland Browns have hired Todd Monken as their new head coach for the 2026 season. Monken previously served as the team's offensive coordinator in 2019 before leaving to join the University of Georgia and later the Baltimore Ravens, where he helped guide one of the NFL's most prolific offenses. While Monken's credentials are strong, the Browns' hiring process was criticized for owner Jimmy Haslam's involvement and for not initially considering Monken as the top candidate.

Why it matters

The Browns are hoping Monken can bring stability and success to their offense, which has struggled in recent seasons. However, the concerns over the hiring process raise questions about the team's decision-making and whether Monken was truly their first choice. The loss of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is also a factor that could impact the team's overall performance.

The details

Monken, who is nearly 60 years old, was not initially viewed as the Browns' top target, with the team believed to be more interested in younger, "forward-thinking" candidates like Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. Monken's hiring was reportedly a compromise between Haslam and general manager Andrew Berry, with the owner getting involved in the search process and undermining the team's original plan. Despite the concerns over the process, Monken's track record as an offensive coordinator, particularly his success in Baltimore, makes him a solid hire on paper.

  • Monken served as the Browns' offensive coordinator in 2019.
  • He left the Browns to join the University of Georgia in 2020.
  • Monken spent two seasons as Georgia's offensive coordinator before joining the Baltimore Ravens in 2022.
  • Monken helped guide the Ravens to one of the NFL's most productive offenses, including an MVP season for quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2023.
  • Monken was hired as the Browns' new head coach in February 2026.

The players

Todd Monken

A veteran NFL coach who has served as an offensive coordinator for several teams, including the Browns in 2019 and the Ravens from 2022-2025, where he helped develop one of the league's top offenses.

Andrew Berry

The Browns' general manager, who was in charge of the team's head coaching search.

Jimmy Haslam

The owner of the Cleveland Browns, who was criticized for getting too involved in the team's head coaching search and undermining the original process.

Jim Schwartz

The Browns' former defensive coordinator, who left the team after Monken's hiring.

Nate Scheelhaase

The Los Angeles Rams' passing game coordinator, who was reportedly considered a top candidate for the Browns' head coaching job before Monken was hired.

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What’s next

The Browns will need to address their quarterback situation and offensive line in order to maximize Monken's impact as the new head coach.

The takeaway

While the Browns' hiring process for their new head coach was criticized, Todd Monken's track record as an offensive coordinator suggests he has the potential to turn around the team's struggling offense. However, the loss of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is a concern, and Monken will need to quickly address the team's personnel needs on that side of the ball as well.