Via Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders' Off-Field Decision Leaves Browns Coach Confused

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Feb 26, 2026 5:01 PM ET

New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has not decided on whether Shedeur Sanders will retain his position as the team’s starting quarterback.

Monken just arrived as the Browns’ new coach during the offseason after the team fired Kevin Stefanski. Monken indicated that Sanders will need to prove that he deserves to be Cleveland’s QB1 and that the role is not guaranteed. Also in contention is incoming second-year QB Dillon Gabriel. The returning Deshaun Watson could be in the mix, too, once he’s fully recovered from his Achilles injury.

Sanders must impress his coach with his strong play in training camp and during the preseason. However, the Pro Bowl QB also needs to get on his coach’s good side off the field.

Cleveland Browns head coach Jeff Monken.Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Monken celebrated his 60th birthday earlier this month. In a recent interview, he revealed that Sanders got him a birthday gift.

Monken, however, was left confused by Sanders’ decision.

“For my birthday, I got this package,” Monken started. “I thought it was for my wife. It's like this package and opens it up. It's like this porcelain horse head. And it's from Shedeur. He sent me a gift on my birthday.

“I asked him, I said, ‘What was the meaning?’ He said, ‘Well, I just really liked it. So I got myself one.’ I said, ‘Well, great.’”

He bought what? pic.twitter.com/SK701Z9T9m
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) February 26, 2026

It’s not that Monken did not appreciate Sanders’ effort. However, the first-year NFL head coach just does not share his young quarterback's taste for porcelain horse heads.

Sanders will have a lot to prove again this year after a memorable rookie campaign. The 24-year-old claimed the QB1 role mid-season. He ended up starting the final seven games, going 3-4.

Sanders played a total of eight games for the Browns in Year 1. He registered 120-of-212 completed passes (56.6%) for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The former Colorado Buffaloes star added 169 yards and 1 TD on the ground on 21 carries.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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