Browns Coach Todd Monken Skips NFL Coaches Photo for Haircut

Monken's NSFW response reveals his priorities as a first-year head coach.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:53pm

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting a football coach's head and shoulders broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of deep browns, greys, and navy blues, conveying a sense of fragmentation and distraction.A new Browns coach's priorities come into focus as he skips a key league event for a haircut.Cleveland Today

In his first year as the Cleveland Browns head coach, Todd Monken caused a stir by missing the annual NFL coaches group photo at the league meetings in Phoenix. When asked about it, Monken gave a shocking NSFW response, revealing he had skipped the photo to get a 'sweet haircut' instead.

Why it matters

As a new head coach, Monken's actions and public comments set the tone for how he will be perceived by players, media, and the league. Missing a standard team photo opportunity is an unusual move that raises questions about his priorities and commitment to his new role.

The details

Monken said he thought he had timed his haircut perfectly to make it back for the scheduled noon photo, but the meeting was moved up 20 minutes, causing him to miss it. When asked about the absence, Monken gave an expletive-filled response, saying he 'really didn't give a shit' about missing the photo.

  • The NFL coaches photo was scheduled for noon Pacific time on April 3, 2026.
  • The meeting was moved up 20 minutes, causing Monken to miss the photo.

The players

Todd Monken

The new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who is trying to turn around the struggling franchise in his first year.

Mary Kay Cabot

A reporter who covers the Cleveland Browns and interviewed Monken about missing the coaches photo.

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What they’re saying

“I really don't give s--t. I mean, it had nothing to do with me,. I mean, they moved the meeting. I didn't miss it. I was just trying to get a sweet haircut. I mean, that's what I was trying to do. And then they moved the meeting.”

— Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns Head Coach

What’s next

Monken will look to move past the photo incident as he focuses on preparing the Browns for the upcoming NFL season.

The takeaway

Monken's brash response highlights the pressure and scrutiny that comes with being a new NFL head coach. While missing a team photo may seem minor, it could set an unprofessional tone if Monken doesn't quickly refocus on building a winning culture in Cleveland.