Todd Monken will be Cleveland Browns’ next coach, AP source says

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns are naming Todd Monken as their head coach, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced Monken’s hiring.

Announcement

Monken has been Baltimore’s offensive coordinator the past three seasons. He interviewed for the first time on January 10th and had a second interview on January 20th. He also interviewed for Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator opening and was tied to the New York Giants’ offensive coordinator job after John Harbaugh was named coach.

Also finalists were Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.

Cleveland fired Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 5 after six seasons and a 46-58 record. Stefanski – who was hired as Atlanta’s coach on Saturday – was a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year and led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 and 2023.

The Browns were 5-12 this season and 8-26 the last two years.

Announcement

Monken has history with the Browns, serving as the offensive coordinator on Freddie Kitchens’ staff in 2019. He attended the University of Georgia from 2020-22 and was the offensive coordinator when the Bulldogs won the national title in 2021 and ’22.

The Ravens were second in the league this season in rushing yards per game (156.6 yards) and 11th in scoring, averaging 24.9 points per game. Baltimore was the league’s top offense in 2024, when it became the first team in NFL history to have at least 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in the same season.

Monken also worked in Jacksonville (2007-10) and Tampa Bay (2016-17). He was the head coach at Southern Mississippi from 2011-2013 and had a 13-26 record.

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