Is Browns Todd Monken already the best HC in the AFC North? Ranking the division’s coaches originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The AFC North has a drastically new look. With legends John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin gone, the “toughest division in football” is suddenly a power vacuum—and the Cleveland Browns just made the boldest play on the board.
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While critics like Emmanuel Acho have labeled Todd Monken the “worst hire” in the division, a closer look at the 2026 landscape reveals a different story. Despite the chaotic search, Cleveland may have just secured the best HC in the North.
Ranking the AFC North Coaches: A New Hierarchy
1. Todd Monken (Cleveland Browns):
Monken takes the top spot because he is the division’s most proven “QB whisperer” with elite results at college and the pros. From winning back-to-back national titles at Georgia to evolving Lamar Jackson into a better passer and two-time MVP, his ability to build a scheme around his talent is unmatched.
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By poaching the architect of Baltimore’s top-ranked 2024 offense, Cleveland hasn’t just gained a coach—they’ve acquired the blueprint to dismantle their biggest rival. He’s the Browns best chance to unlock Shedeur Sanders potential, and/or revitalize Deshaun Watson.
2. Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals):
The veteran of the group by default. Taylor has a Super Bowl appearance on his resume, but a 6-11 finish in 2025 has his seat simmering. He is a proven winner when Joe Burrow is healthy, but that hasn’t been very often. Without a major bounce-back year, there will likely be a new sideline boss
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3. Mike McCarthy (Pittsburgh Steelers):
A Super Bowl champion, yes, but his “retread” status has fans divided. While he brings stability to the post-Tomlin era, his inability to get over the hump in Dallas remains a major red flag for a franchise that is demanding more than just making the playoffs.
4. Jesse Minter (Baltimore Ravens):
A defensive star from the Jim Harbaugh coaching tree, who turned the Chargers into a powerhouse. However, he enters the division with the thinnest resume.
While Monken and Minter are both first-time NFL head coaches, Monken brings over 30 years of experience and previous head coaching reps at the college level. Minter, at just 42, is facing a massive learning curve as he tries to maintain a Hall of Fame standard in Baltimore.
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The Bottom Line:
In a division defined by transition, Monken’s unique mix of championship experience and insider division knowledge makes him the most dangerous man in the AFC North.
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