Dorothy

The Cleveland Browns have officially hired Todd Monken as their 11th head coach since 1999, according to multiple reports from ESPN and CBS Sports. Monken comes to Cleveland after serving as offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, where he oversaw Lamar Jackson’s MVP-caliber seasons and helped develop one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses. His hiring marks a significant shift for the Browns, who are seeking stability after years of coaching turnover and inconsistent offensive production. While ESPN emphasizes Monken’s credentials as a proven play-caller with direct experience developing elite quarterbacks, CBS Sports cautions that history suggests the move carries risk—citing a pattern of offensive coordinators struggling to transition successfully into head coaching roles, particularly when their success was heavily tied to a singular star player like Jackson. ESPN frames the hire as a logical step toward offensive revitalization, while CBS Sports highlights potential red flags, including Monken’s lack of prior head coaching experience and the uncertainty of replicating Ravens-style success in Cleveland’s different personnel and organizational context. Both outlets agree on the core facts of the hiring, but differ in their assessment of its long-term viability.