
It's been a big week for Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Not only was he named to the AFC roster for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, he learned who his next head coach will be.
Sanders, the 144th overall pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, didn't take over for the Browns until Nov. 16 against the Baltimore Ravens. He finished his rookie season completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Did he show enough to be the starter in 2026? He sure hopes so.
“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things, and I got experience now,” Sanders said. “So, I’m always the same, confidence-wise, I’m there. But like, that’s not in my hands. Like, that’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
If Sanders wants to be the Week 1 starter for the Browns, he'll have to impress his new head coach. Cleveland finalized a deal with Todd Monken this Wednesday, making him the 19th full-time coach in franchise history.
Although it's tough to really tell from a social media post, it appears Sanders is on board with the front office's decision.
Sanders reposted Cleveland's official announcement about Monken on Instagram along with this caption: "Time for work."
Shedeur sanders reacts to the hiring of Todd monken
— Dalvinthetruth (@dalvinthetruth) January 28, 2026
“Time for work “ the pro bowl qb is ready for year 2 pic.twitter.com/17nOr3LwLG
Monken had a great run with the Baltimore Ravens from 2023-2025. In fact, Lamar Jackson was named MVP during his first season with Monken as his offensive coordinator.
In 2024, the Ravens had the No. 1 offense in the NFL thanks to Monken's dynamic rushing attack. What's even more impressive is that Baltimore had the top ground game (166.9 yards per game) in the league over the past three seasons.
With Monken at the helm, Sanders could potentially take that next step in his development. That is, of course, if he's considered the long-term answer for the Browns.
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