Browns Hire Todd Monken As Next Head Coach

Monken most recently served as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Georgia Bulldogs.

His NFL experience includes serving as offensive coordinator for the Browns in 2019 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016 to 2018. Before making his way to the NFL, Monken spent decades in college football, holding various coaching roles since 1989.

Monken’s only head coaching experience came at the collegiate level, guiding the Southern Miss Golden Eagles from 2013 to 2015.

At Southern Miss, Monken took over a program coming off a 0–12 season. After going 1–11 in his first year and 3–9 in his second, he led the team to a 9–5 record in his third season.

Grading The Hire

It’s clear that owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Andrew Berry were looking for an offensive-minded head coach to address the team’s struggles on that side of the ball.

Monken fits that description, bringing tons of experience calling plays throughout his career. His age and lack of head coaching experience, however, make this hire somewhat uninspiring. Haslam and Berry are likely betting that Monken can stabilize the offense while providing veteran leadership during a rebuilding phase.

It is a strange scenario. Monken could still have upside as a head coach, but if that potential were obvious, he likely would have already had an opportunity. While this hire could potentially work, a bigger swing, such as a younger coach with more long-term upside, might have offered a better chance to dramatically shift the team’s trajectory.

Sometimes going with the steady, experienced option pays off, as we have seen with Mike Vrabel for the New England Patriots. Other times, betting on a young, innovative coach like the Los Angeles Rams did with Sean McVay is the path to success.

Cleveland still has major holes on offense, including a quarterback. While progress may be visible this season, it will likely take another offseason to truly jumpstart the team.

All things considered, I would give this hire a C-. A new veteran voice in the locker room is better than keeping Kevin Stefanski, but the organization opted for the safer route rather than swinging for a higher ceiling. If it does not work, the Browns should have no hesitation in making changes after the season before drafting a franchise quarterback to reshape the team.

End Of My Cleveland Browns Rant

Time will ultimately tell whether this hire works out for Cleveland. It is not the complete miss that some of the media might suggest, but it is also not a move the fans should be celebrating. Monken should bring strong leadership and maximize the team’s offense, but only time will show whether he is the right choice as head coach.