When the Cleveland Browns first hired Kevin Stefanski back in 2020, they envisioned a hard-running back-driven offense similar to his Minnesota Vikings offensive attack that he had displayed. And in several years, the Browns run game was dominant, highlighted by the talents of Nick Chubb.
But the quarterback situation never became solved under Stefanski. Turnover at this position was constant for several years without any stability.
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RELATED: 10 TAKEAWAYS FROM MONKEN’S FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE
After six years under Stefanski’s tutelage, the offense was ranked at the bottom of most categories this past season.
2025 total offense: #30. Passing offense: #31. Running offense: #27. The 2024 season wasn’t much different. Total offense: #28. Passing offense: #22. Running offense: #29. Remember, Stefanski was an offensive coach, yet his offensive production was horrible as the team collected 26 losses in his final two seasons.
So, the Browns fired him and searched for an adequate candidate to replace him. But it was assumed that an offensive-minded coach would become the next head coach because that side of the ball needed so much attention. Plus, the fact that their QB room had two young signal-callers who needed extra grooming and development.
And even though there were plenty of young offensive coordinators in the league who could have been given the chance to become the next Sean McVay, the Browns’ owners, Dee and Jimmy Haslam, hired the OC from the Baltimore Ravens, veteran coach Todd Monken.
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When it was announced that Cleveland had signed Monken, a lot of Browns fans were upset. He was not from the McVay or Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. He wasn’t a young buck chomping at the bit to get his first head coaching job. In fact, he is probably already getting Medicare and drawing Social Security.
Monken, age 60, is the epitome of what an offensive-minded coach is all about. His superpower is the ability to transform inadequate offenses into league leaders. And he has done this repeatedly. By the way, he’s not quite old enough to be getting his Social Security benefits.
He has transformed every single program that he has been hired to run the offense. Except for one season of 2019, when he accepted the OC job with Cleveland under newly-hired head coach Freddie Kitchens.
Let’s explain.
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That season has been described as a total mess. Part of Monken’s job duties was to have a complete game plan laid out for each game. But in the game, Kitchens would call a different plan on Sunday. This diminished Monken’s duties as the team’s OC over the course of the year, and basically made him useless. Kitchens had been Cleveland’s interim OC the year before, and thought his ideas and strategy trumped someone who had planned all week.
After just one year, Kitchens was fired, and Monken took the express train out of Northeast Ohio.
Let’s take a look at what Monken has done in his entire coaching career to see what progress he has made with the projects he was hired to fix. This is a comprehensive look brought to you in clear, black-and-white data about what Monken has achieved with every offense he has been in charge of.
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Then, if you still don’t like the fact that the Haslams hired Monken, well, send an email to this link and present your fact-based argument:
Just for reference, this list will focus on when Monken was a team’s OC or head coach only. Although as a position coach, his results do affect the bottom line of each offense, there are too many additional factors involved that can alter an offensive ranking and, in fairness, aren’t a direct result of his ability to run and operate an entire offensive group.
Grand Valley State University/University of Notre Dame
Grad assistant (both schools)
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1989-1992
Eastern Michigan University
DB/WR coach
1993-1999
Louisiana Tech University
RB/WR coach
2000-2001
Oklahoma State UniversityPassing game coordinator2002-2004
Before Monken – 2001 ranking: #88; Average points per game: 22.0, Average yards per game: 306.6
2002 ranking: #13; Average points per game: 34.3, Average yards per game: 411.1
2003 ranking: #11; Average points per game: 35.9, Average yards per game: 414.8
2004 ranking: #17; Average points per game: 32.3, Average yards per game: 380.5
Note: In two seasons, from the #88 ranking to #11
Louisiana State UniversityPassing game coordinator2005-2006
Before Monken – 2004 ranking: #42; Average points per game: 28.7, Average yards per game: 395.6
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2005 ranking: #43; Average points per game: 29.5, Average yards per game: 374.1
2006 ranking: #9; Average points per game: 33.7, Average yards per game: 417.5
Note: In two seasons, from the #42 ranking to #9
Jacksonville Jaguars
WR coach
2007-2010
Oklahoma State UniversityOC/QB coach2011-2012
Before Monken – 2010 ranking: #3; Average points per game: 44.2, Average yards per game: 520.2
2011 ranking: #2; Average points per game: 48.7, Average yards per game: 545.8
2012 ranking: #3; Average points per game: 45.7, Average yards per game: 547.0
Note: In one season, from the #3 ranking to #2
University of Southern MississippiHead Coach2013-2015
Before Monken – 2012 ranking: #112; Average points per game: 19.7, Average yards per game: 322.8
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2013 ranking: #119; Average points per game: 17.1, Average yards per game: 315.5
2014 ranking: #117; Average points per game: 19.0, Average yards per game: 365.0
2015 ranking: #13; Average points per game: 39.9, Average yards per game: 509.5
Note: In three seasons, from the #112 ranking to #13
Tampa Bay BuccaneersOC/WR coach2016-2018
Before Monken – 2015 ranking: #5; Average points per game: 21.8, Average yards per game: 375.9
2016 ranking: #18; Average points per game: 22.1, Average yards per game: 346.4
2017 ranking: #9; Average points per game: 20.9, Average yards per game: 363.5
2018 ranking: #3; Average points per game: 24.8, Average yards per game: 415.5
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Note: In three seasons, from the #5 ranking to #3
Cleveland BrownsOC2019
Before Monken – 2018 ranking: #13; Average points per game: 22.4, Average yards per game: 368.8
2019 ranking: #22; Average points per game: 20.9, Average yards per game: 340.9
University of GeorgiaOC/QB coach2020-2022
Before Monken – 2019 ranking: #49; Average points per game: 30.8, Average yards per game: 408.9
2020 ranking: #38; Average points per game: 32.3, Average yards per game: 424.1
2021 ranking: #9; Average points per game: 38.6, Average yards per game: 443.1
2022 ranking: #5; Average points per game: 41.1, Average yards per game: 501.2
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Note: In three seasons, from the #49 ranking to #5
Baltimore RavensOC 2023-2025
Before Monken – 2022 ranking: #16; Average points per game: 30.5, Average yards per game: 338.8
2023 ranking: #6; Average points per game: 28.4, Average yards per game: 370.4
2024 ranking: #1; Average points per game: 20.9, Average yards per game: 424.9
2025 ranking: #16; Average points per game: 24.9, Average yards per game: 332.2
Note: In two seasons, from the #16 ranking to #1