The Cleveland Browns have landed on their next head coach after a process that saw several candidates bow out.
The Cleveland Browns coaching search lasted 24 days, and it was starting to feel like they weren’t going to have many options left, with multiple candidates bowing out of the search. While the search was widely reported on, the Browns landed on their next head coach with a candidate who largely flew under the radar. On Wednesday, it was announced that former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken will be taking over in Cleveland to replace Kevin Stefanski, who was fired after six years. The news was confirmed by Browns Roundtable.
The Browns chose to go with a more veteran option over a young, rising upcomer like Los Angeles Rams passing coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. They also elected to go with an outside hire over the internal favorite, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who the team hopes to retain in his role despite passing over him for the head role. Monken returns to Cleveland after spending one season as the team’s offensive coordinator under Freddie Kitchens in 2019 – after which Kitchens was fired. Monken went to the collegiate level and became the OC for the Georgia Bulldogs, who went on to win two national championships. Monken returned to the NFL to join John Harbaugh’s staff in 2023.
Here is the full story from Browns Roundtable writer Spencer German on what the future holds in Cleveland under Monken.
Monken will now look to stabilize the quarterback room in Cleveland after helping Lamar Jackson to his second MVP award in his first year with the Ravens. The Baltimore offense ranked top 10 in EPA per play over the last two seasons and were best in the league in 2024. He goes from what was a fairly stable organization under Harbaugh’s tenure to one in a bit more disarray and will look to retool one of the worst offenses in football last season.