In a revealing sit-down with Nathan Zegura, Browns GM Andrew Berry pulled back the curtain on how the search for a new leader unfolded. Forget the rumors; Berry made it clear that while they “wanted to design a process that allowed us to cast a wide net,” the finish line came down to a distinct trio of finalists.

Berry described Jim Schwartz as a “defensive savant” and a “strong leader” who possesses a “global knowledge of football.” Meanwhile, he lauded Nate Scheelhaase youthful energy who has a “pro and college background” and “learned under Sean McVay.” But it was Todd Monken who fundamentally changed the math for Cleveland.

“With Todd, we love just his performance track record,” Berry stated. “His offensive track record was quite honestly like unprecedented in terms of being on the open market.”

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Tommy Gilligan

What truly separated Monken from the pack wasn’t just his 30-plus years of experience, but a rare technical adaptability that Berry believes is “hard to find.” While other candidates were tied to a single philosophy, Monken “doesn’t have a system, but is truly fluid in adapting it to the personnel.” Whether it’s “air raid system,” “power run game,” “star quarterbacks,” or “mobile quarterbacks,” Monken has won with all of them.

Ultimately, Berry is betting on that versatility to ignite a massive turnaround for the offense 2026. “We’re looking forward to investing in this offensive roster,” Berry noted, emphasizing that Monken’s unique ability to develop young talent is an “incredible advantage”.

The scouting combine is coming up at the end of the month, followed by the NFL Draft in April where Cleveland’s front office has 10-picks. We’ll know soon enough what fresh groceries Monken will have to cook with come training camp.

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