New Browns Coach Misses NFL's Annual Coaches Photo

Todd Monken's haircut scheduling conflict becomes an early embarrassment for the struggling franchise

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:09pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented group of NFL coaches, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the instability and lack of continuity in the Browns' coaching staff.The Browns' coaching carousel continues, as new head coach Todd Monken misses the NFL's annual group photo due to a scheduling conflict.Cleveland Today

Todd Monken, the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, missed the NFL's annual coaches group photo at the league's Phoenix meeting after his haircut appointment ran long. The photo was taken about 20 minutes ahead of schedule, and Monken was informed by another coach that it had already happened. This gaffe becomes an early embarrassment for the Browns, who have had six head coaches in the last 14 years under the Haslam ownership.

Why it matters

The Browns have struggled with coaching continuity for years, and this incident with Monken's missed photo opportunity reinforces the perception of dysfunction within the organization. It also comes at a bad time, as the team is trying to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season and build momentum around their new head coach. The narrative of Monken's absence will likely follow him throughout the 2026 season.

The details

The NFL's annual coaches group photo was scheduled for noon, but league organizers decided to take the picture immediately after the coaches meeting concluded early. No notification was sent out to coaches who had stepped away, including Monken, who had scheduled a haircut appointment before the noon photo time. When Jacksonville's Liam Coen told Monken the photo had already been taken, Monken expressed his disappointment, joking 'Am I still allowed to be the coach if I'm not in the picture?'

  • The NFL coaches meeting concluded early on April 12, 2026.
  • The annual coaches group photo was taken approximately 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled noon time on April 12, 2026.

The players

Todd Monken

The new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, hired in 2026 to be the franchise's sixth head coach in the last 14 years under the Haslam ownership.

Liam Coen

The head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who informed Monken that the coaches photo had already been taken.

Kevin Stefanski

The previous head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who was fired on January 5, 2026 after a 44-56 record over 6 seasons, including 2 playoff appearances and 2 Coach of the Year awards.

Jim Schwartz

The former defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, who resigned on February 6, 2026 after being passed over for the head coaching job that went to Monken.

Deshaun Watson

The Browns' starting quarterback, who has played just 19 games for the team over the past two seasons and is recovering from his second Achilles tear.

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What they’re saying

“There's major disappointment, that's why I went and got a haircut, for God's sake. I wouldn't have got a haircut if it wasn't that damn important. I went and got the hair cut and then missed it.”

— Todd Monken, Head Coach, Cleveland Browns

“Am I still allowed to be the coach if I'm not in the picture?”

— Todd Monken, Head Coach, Cleveland Browns

What’s next

The Browns will need to address the defensive coordinator vacancy created by Jim Schwartz's resignation, as well as continue to manage the uncertainty around Deshaun Watson's health and availability for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

This incident with Monken's missed photo opportunity highlights the ongoing challenges the Browns face in building a stable, successful organization. The team's constant coaching turnover and dysfunction have created an uphill battle for new hires like Monken, who now has an embarrassing narrative to overcome before the season even starts.