The Cleveland Browns have chosen Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their next head coach, according to a person with knowledge of the decision who spoke to the Associated Press on Wednesday. The team has not yet announced the hire.
Monken, who turns 60 on Feb. 5, spent the last three seasons leading Baltimore’s offense. The Ravens ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards per game (156.6) this season and 11th in scoring (24.9 points per game). In 2024, Baltimore became the first team in league history to surpass 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in the same season.
He previously served as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator under Freddie Kitchens in 2019. After that stint, Monken joined the University of Georgia, where he coordinated offenses that won national championships in 2021 and 2022.
Monken becomes the seventh head coach hired by owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam since they purchased the franchise in 2012. The previous six combined for a 73-139-1 regular-season record, the second-worst mark in the NFL over that span.
The Browns went 5-12 this season and 8-26 over the past two years. They fired Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 5 after a 46-58 tenure that included two playoff appearances and two AP NFL Coach of the Year awards. Stefanski was later hired by the Atlanta Falcons.
Cleveland interviewed 10 candidates for the opening. The search saw several high-profile names withdraw or cancel second interviews, including Grant Udinski, Mike McDaniel, and Jesse Minter. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was a finalist, remains under contract for one more season. Schwartz has built one of the league’s top defenses, leading the NFL in total defense in 2023 and ranking fourth this year. Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23 sacks in 2024.
Monken’s first priority will be retaining Schwartz. However, the bigger challenge will be fixing an offense that has cycled through quarterbacks. Stefanski started an NFL-high 13 different quarterbacks during his tenure, including seven over the last two seasons. The Deshaun Watson trade has not paid off; Watson has played just 19 games and went 9-10 as a starter with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He missed the 2025 season rehabbing a torn Achilles. Rookie Shedeur Sanders started the final seven games, going 3-4.
Cleveland holds the sixth and 24th overall picks in the 2026 NFL draft. “The next 120 days are crucial for the organization,” Haslam said on Jan. 5. “We’ve got to find the right head coach… We have 10 draft picks, including two number ones.”
Monken’s hiring leaves the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals as the only teams still searching for a head coach.
