On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the Cleveland Browns made their bet on offense and leadership. The team hired former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their new head coach on a five-year deal, making him the Browns’ 19th full-time head coach and the 11th since 1999. Monken turns 60 on February 5.

Monken, who served as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2019, also plans to bring Ravens offensive line coach George Warhop back to Cleveland to lead the trenches. The move caps a full reset of AFC North sidelines for 2026: the Browns now go with Monken, the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy, the Ravens elevated Jesse Minter, and the Bengals stay the course with Zac Taylor.

The Browns are swinging for a reset after a 5-12 finish in 2025 and an 8-26 slide since their 2023 playoff run. The change comes after Kevin Stefanski, who went 45-56 with two postseason appearances, was dismissed on January 5. In a division where the coaching bar just went up, Cleveland chose the architect of Baltimore’s recent offensive surge.

Who the Browns just hired: Todd Monken’s track record

Monken brings 37 years of coaching experience: 11 in the NFL, seven as an NFL offensive coordinator, and 26 in college. He has been a head coach before (Southern Miss, 2013–15) and led the offense at Georgia from 2020–22. His NFL tour includes stops coordinating in Tampa Bay and Cleveland, and most recently guiding Lamar Jackson and the Ravens from 2023–25.

His Baltimore run is the headline. The Ravens’ offense reached No. 1 in the NFL in 2024, and even with chemistry issues and injuries in 2025, they finished 11th in scoring. Jackson won his second NFL MVP in 2024 with Monken calling the shots. Prior to that, Baltimore ranked inside the top five in back-to-back seasons under his watch.

Ownership and the front office stressed fit and voice. “[Monken] is an outstanding leader and has a clear vision to lead our team as a strong communicator who values trust with his players but also accountability and preparation,” owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. GM Andrew Berry added, “Todd has a varied and diverse background that we found as a particularly appealing match for our team at this stage in its life cycle. He has a direct, demanding, and detail-oriented leadership style that will create a great incubator for a young team.”

“If he built a No. 1 offense in Baltimore, can he finally unlock Cleveland’s?”

Why Cleveland moved now: results and a reset

The Browns have been stuck in reverse since the 2023 playoffs. A 5-12 season in 2025 and an 8-26 mark since that postseason made a big change feel unavoidable. Stefanski’s era brought needed stability and two playoff trips, but the offense stalled too often. Cleveland chose an experienced play-caller with a head coach’s presence to reset the room.

Monken also knows the building. He was the Browns’ offensive coordinator in 2019 under Freddie Kitchens, a season that ended in frustration. As reported at the time, Monken called the situation a “total mess” and criticized play-calling. This time he is the head coach, with the authority to set the plan and the tone.

What Monken brings from the Ravens offense

Monken’s calling card is adaptability. In Baltimore, he blended quarterback strengths, leaned into matchup football, and handled injuries without losing the plot. The results: top-five offenses, an MVP year from Lamar Jackson, and a unit that stayed competitive even when banged up.

For Cleveland, that matters. The Browns need a system that can lift different quarterbacks and protect the ball while staying aggressive. Expect Monken to stress detail, situational football, and discipline. The goal is simple: fewer empty possessions, more easy throws, and a real identity on early downs.

“Hire an offense-first coach, then fix the line—this feels like a plan at last.”

Roster reality: Deshaun Watson and the QB room

Monken inherits a quarterback room in flux. Deshaun Watson is rehabbing the Achilles injury he suffered in 2024 and is expected back in 2026. Behind him are two young arms: Dillon Gabriel (six starts) and Shedeur Sanders (seven starts). Monken’s early months will be about assessment and fit—who processes best, who moves the chains, and how to align the scheme to the starter’s strengths.

The timeline is tight but workable. If Watson is healthy, he becomes the centerpiece. If not, the Browns must structure an offense that can steady the ship with Gabriel or Sanders. Monken’s history suggests he can adapt to either path.

Trenches first: George Warhop and an O-line rebuild

Warhop, a veteran with 29 NFL seasons, returns to Cleveland to rebuild an aging line. The depth chart needs attention right now. Four starters are hitting free agency—Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin—and Dawand Jones has battled injuries. That is a lot of change at once.

• Warhop’s task: reset protections, re-establish the run game, and build durable depth.
• Front office task: decide which veterans to re-sign and where to get younger.

A strong line will be the foundation for any quarterback choice. Warhop’s hire sends a clear message: Cleveland knows where this turnaround must start.

“If Warhop fixes the front, everything else looks better—fast.”

Elite defense, big decision: the Jim Schwartz question

Jim Schwartz’s defense has been the Browns’ backbone. Since 2023, Cleveland ranks No. 1 in points allowed and gave up the fewest yards per game in 2025. But his status is uncertain. Despite owner support, reports say Schwartz wants to leave.

Keeping that unit together—or choosing the right replacement—will define Year 1 for Monken. A top defense plus a competent offense is a playoff formula. Breaking in a new defense on top of an offensive overhaul raises the degree of difficulty.

The search and the choice: why Monken

Cleveland cast a wide net. The Browns interviewed Mike McDaniel, who later withdrew and is now the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, and Jesse Minter, who ultimately became the Ravens’ head coach. The Browns chose Monken, a coach they knew, with a voice they trust and a record of building flexible, high-functioning offenses.

Ownership praised his communication and accountability. Berry emphasized fit for a “young team” and a demanding, detail-first approach. Those traits match what this roster needs—clarity, discipline, and a plan to grow.

The AFC North arms race is on

Monken enters a division that just reset at the top. The Steelers turned to Mike McCarthy. The Ravens promoted Jesse Minter after building a contender with Monken. The Bengals kept Zac Taylor and a steady program. Every game in the North is a coaching battle. The Browns need to match preparation and win on the margins.

Bottom line: a five-year runway to fix the offense

Monken arrives with experience, a line builder in Warhop, and a clear mandate—make the offense match the defense. The path is not easy. The quarterback timeline, the offensive line overhaul, and the Schwartz decision are all high-impact calls that come fast.

But the blueprint is there. A direct voice. A proven play-caller. A focus on the trenches. If Cleveland gets those parts right, the Browns can turn 5-12 into a step forward in 2026, and finally build the balanced team this fan base has waited for.