of cleveland browns We are hiring the original baltimore ravens League sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that offensive coordinator Todd Monken will be the next head coach.

Monken, who turns 60 on February 5th, replaces Kevin Stefanski, who was fired on January 5th after six seasons in Cleveland. The Browns finished 5-12 last season and are 8-26 since last making the playoffs in 2023.

Cleveland hired Monken as head coach and he is currently away from the team. new york giants Head coach John Harbaugh is looking for a new offensive coordinator. Many expected Monken to follow Harbaugh to New York if he was not hired as head coach.

Monken, who spent the past three seasons in Baltimore and remained on new Ravens coach Jesse Minter’s staff, becomes the franchise’s 11th full-time coach since returning to the NFL in 1999. las vegas raiders (13) During that period. He previously served as the Browns’ offensive coordinator on Freddie Kitchens’ staff during the 2019 season.

Monken was one of five candidates interviewed in person by the Browns, along with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. jacksonville jaguars O.C. grant udinsky, Los Angeles Rams Passing Game Coordinator Nate Schielhaas commander of washington run game coordinator/running backs coach Anthony Lynn; Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Udinski withdrew his name from the list after an interview last Friday.

Cleveland plans second in-person meeting with former figure miami dolphins Head coach Mike McDaniel Los Angeles Chargers Defensive coordinator, but both withdrew their names from the list. McDaniel joined the Chargers as their new offensive coordinator, and Minter agreed to terms with the Ravens.

Monken, a longtime assistant with more than 30 years of experience in the college and NFL ranks, will be embarking on his first opportunity as an NFL head coach. He was the head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi from 2013 to 2015, posting a 13-25 regular season record. In 2015, Monken led the program to a 9-5 season, an appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, and was named Conference USA Coach of the Year. He then stepped down as the team’s offensive coordinator. tampa bay buccaneerswhere he served in the role for the next three seasons.

Monken arrives in Baltimore after three successful years as offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win national championships in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Monken’s first season with the Ravens, he helped quarterback lamar jackson He won the Most Valuable Player Award for the second time. The following season, Baltimore finished No. 1 in offense for the first time in franchise history.

Monken’s NFL experience includes three years as wide receivers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2007-2010.

In Cleveland, Monken will be tasked with rebuilding an offense that finished last in scoring (15.8 points per game) the past two seasons. Offensive coordinator Tommy Reese has joined Stefanski’s staff. atlanta falcons in the same role. Wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea also joins the team. kansas city chiefs with the same ability.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry, who led the search for a head coach, said in his postseason press conference that there would be “significant investment” in the offensive line during the offseason. He also said the new head coach will have a say in quarterback decisions. deshaun watsonHe did not play in 2025 due to rehabilitation from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in October 2024, but is expected to be on the roster in 2026. He will also return to the quarterback room. Dillon Gabriel and Shedua Sandersstarted six and seven games, respectively, as rookies.

Monken will inherit a defense that has been one of the best units in the NFL over the past three seasons. Since Schwartz arrived in 2023, the Browns’ defense has allowed the fewest yards per game (298.6) and has the league’s best third-down conversion rate (33.8%). defense end Myles Garrett Garrett also won Defensive Player of the Year under Schwartz in 2020. Garrett is the overwhelming favorite to win his second DPOY award at next week’s NFL Honors after recording 23 sacks, breaking the NFL’s single-season sack record.

It’s unclear whether Monken will retain Schwartz. Owner Jimmy Haslam previously said he “absolutely” wanted to keep Schwartz with the organization. Berry said he was happy with the state of the defense, but added that the staff’s decisions will be the “prerogative” of the new head coach.

The Browns hold the No. 6 and No. 24 overall picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, for a total of No. 10 picks.