And then there were two.
The Cleveland Browns filled their head coaching vacancy on Jan. 28, hiring former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to succeed Kevin Stefanski.
‘We are very excited to name Todd Monken the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “Todd is highly intelligent, and his experienced, innovative offensive mindset has been at the forefront of constructing productive and successful offenses at the NFL and collegiate level over the last 20 years. He 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.
‘In our committee’s exhaustive reference work on Todd, his commitment to player development was evident, and his tough and straightforward coaching is respected by the players and the coaches he’s worked with, putting our team in a position to succeed while developing our players to maximize their talents. We welcome Todd, Terri, and the rest of the Monken family back to the Browns and look forward to him establishing the winning culture that will lead our team to the success our fans so deserve.”
Monken, 59, has never been a head man in the NFL but was Southern Mississippi’s head coach from 2013 to ’15. Now he switches addresses in what will be a radically different AFC North in 2026, the Cincinnati Bengals the only team in a division long known for its stability that didn’t change coaches this month. Monken was widely expected to join former Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who was quickly hired to lead the New York Giants, to run the offense for Big Blue. But Harbaugh will now have to pivot on that front.
Monken inherits a Cleveland squad that has plenty of talent − led by All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett and a very strong crop of rookies obtained in last year’s draft − but is (still) seeking an answer at quarterback … despite Shedeur Sanders’ recent Pro Bowl (Games) nod.
Monken joined the Ravens in 2023 after spending three seasons (and contributing to two championship runs) as the OC at the University of Georgia. Prior to his arrival in Athens in 2020, he was the Browns’ offensive coordinator in 2019 and served the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the same role from 2016 to ’18. Monken, who also has extensive coaching experience in the college ranks, began his career at Grand Valley State in 1989 and moved on to Notre Dame two years later.
“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,” EVP of football operations and GM Andrew Berry said in a statement. “He has a direct, demanding, and detail-oriented leadership style that will create a great incubator for a young team. His successful offensive track record at both the pro and college level with a variety of offensive systems and QB skill sets will allow maximum flexibility as we make several, long-term investments on that side of the ball.’
The Ravens ranked in the top five in scoring offense in 2023 and ’24 but fell to 11th last season, when quarterback Lamar Jackson missed four starts due to injuries and generally didn’t play up to his usual MVP-caliber abilities. Baltimore’s offense ranked first overall in 2024.
However Monken was a lightning rod for criticism in Baltimore at times given the team’s persistent struggles to salt away fourth-quarter leads. The Ravens also tended to stray from their formidable running game at inopportune times − notably their 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 AFC championship game in Baltimore, when the Ravens ran the ball 16 times … eight of them by Jackson.
Given the questions behind center in Cleveland, Monken may have to lean heavily on backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, both rookies in 2025. Judkins led the Browns last season with 827 rushing yards and seven TDs. He broke his ankle and fibula in Week 16 but is expected to be ready for the 2026 season.
The Browns scored the second-fewest points in the league last season and ranked third from the bottom overall offensively.
Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, was fired on Black Monday but was subsequently hired by the Atlanta Falcons.
This hiring cycle has seen 10 head coach vacancies but all have now been filled save the Arizona Cardinals’ and Las Vegas Raiders’ jobs.
