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The Cleveland Browns are hiring former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their next head coach, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Monken was the Browns’ OC in 2019 under Freddie Kitchens, so he’s a familiar face to the organization.
Monken, who turns 60 next week, replaces Kevin Stefanski as the Browns’ HC. Stefanski was in Cleveland for six seasons before being fired on Jan. 5 after a 5-12 campaign.
Monken becomes Cleveland’s 11th head coach (not counting interim coaches) since returning to the NFL in 1999. Only the Las Vegas Raiders (13) have had more head coaches during that span.
This will be Monken’s first NFL head coaching opportunity. He previously served as a head coach at the college level from 2013-15 at Southern Miss. He was also the OC and QBs coach at Georgia from 2020–22, when the Bulldogs won two College Football Playoff National Championships.
Monken served as the Baltimore Ravens OC the last three years, igniting a lethal rushing attack with quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Under Monken’s stewardship, Jackson was named NFL MVP in 2023 for the second time in his career.
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was in the running for the head coach position. Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase was also a finalist.
Schefter notes that Schwartz is still under contract to Cleveland and the team wants him to stay. Schwartz was reportedly visibly upset, said goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he’s not coming back.
The Browns notified Scheelhaase on Wednesday morning they were going in a different direction. He plans to stay with the Rams and be a factor next cycle, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
The Browns are reportedly a “data-driven operation” and required head coaching candidates to complete questionnaires, a multi-part essay, a personality test, and additional homework, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Three coaches withdrew themselves from the HC search. Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter all dropped out. Minter was named as the Ravens head coach, while McDaniel is the Los Angeles Chargers’ new offensive coordinator.
The Browns’ brass was in Los Angeles on Monday to interview Scheelhaase, who’s considered an up-and-coming offensive mind from the Sean McVay coaching tree.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a virtual interview with Scheelhaase but decided to hire Mike McCarthy as their head coach on Saturday. Scheelhaase was not allowed to due an in-person interview until after Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
Monken joins McCarthy and Minter as the new head coaches in the AFC North.
Mentioned In This Article: AFC North Baltimore Ravens Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Todd Monken