All articles tagged with #todd monken
With Todd Monken taking over, Cleveland plans a system built around limited current talent and a likely TE-heavy approach for 2026, potentially reuniting Monken with Georgia product Oscar Delp while adding other TEs like Harold Fannin Jr., Blake Whiteheart, and Brenden Bates after David Njoku’s departure.
Todd Monken said Shedeur Sanders has elite playmaking ability, signaling he could start for the Browns in 2026 after Sanders finished last year as the starter and posted 1,400 passing yards with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions in eight games (seven starts). With Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel under contract, Cleveland views the QB position as open and will explore adding another quarterback, aiming to settle the starter by training camp.
The Cleveland Browns have named their three coordinators under head coach Todd Monken for the 2026 season: Travis Switzer as offensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg as defensive coordinator, and Byron Storer as special teams coordinator. Monken stressed a players-first philosophy and highlighted Switzer’s Ravens run-game success, Rutenberg’s NFL coordinating and coaching background, and Storer’s Packers special-teams credentials as the foundation for building the 2026 unit.
The Cleveland Browns plan to hire Falcons defensive passing game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as their new defensive coordinator after Jim Schwartz's resignation, with Rutenberg joining head coach Todd Monken and potentially continuing Schwartz's scheme with some philosophical changes.
The Cleveland Browns are nearing a deal to hire Falcons pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as their defensive coordinator under new head coach Todd Monken, marking his first DC role. Rutenberg has NFL coaching experience with the Jets, 49ers, Jaguars and Washington. Monken plans to maintain an attack-style defense and is expected to keep most of Jim Schwartz’s staff, as the Browns aim to sustain a top-ranked defense.
Jim Schwartz resigned as the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator after three seasons, opening a 2026 DC vacancy as head coach Todd Monken takes over. Schwartz, reportedly unhappy about being passed over for the head coaching job and still under contract, is not a free agent, and Cleveland will begin a search for a replacement. The team may consider internal candidates or assistants linked to Matt Burke while aiming to preserve the current defensive system.
After introducing new head coach Todd Monken, the Browns offered little public clarity on the future of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who is under contract through 2026 and reportedly wants out after not landing the top job. Monken said Schwartz is outstanding but declined to comment on his status and emphasized plans to keep the current defensive system, leaving Schwartz’s fate to be decided later and potentially shaped by financial considerations and team dynamics.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said Todd Monken was leading the team's coaching search the entire time, noting a roughly 20-day process with about nine interviews during which candidates sometimes dropped out before Monken was hired to coach Cleveland in 2026 and beyond.
New Browns coach Todd Monken refused to comment on Jim Schwartz's status, praising Schwartz as an outstanding DC while indicating no changes to the team's defensive scheme and stressing a focus on the players.
Cornerback Denzel Ward says he hopes Jim Schwartz stays with the Browns as the team weighs its coaching future after hiring Todd Monken. Schwartz has two years left on his contract and has public support from Myles Garrett and Grant Delpit, despite ongoing uncertainty. The Browns finished 4th in total defense and 14th in points under Schwartz."
Todd Monken has been hired as Browns head coach, but defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz remains in limbo. Schwartz, under contract through 2026, is reportedly hopeful he’ll stay, with Cleveland unlikely to grant exits unless a head-coaching opportunity arises. Other NFL teams have openings, but the Browns appear to be blocking moves to keep Schwartz, at least for now, as the organization waits for his decision ahead of the NFL combine.
OutKick’s Dan Dakich rips Emmanuel Acho for telling Shedeur Sanders not to listen to his coach Todd Monken, arguing Monken’s credentials (including past success with top players) make Acho’s advice misguided. Sanders and Monken’s brief post-advice meeting suggests a working relationship, underscoring that first-time NFL coaches can help quarterbacks when trusted, not dismissed for attention.
Browns head coach Todd Monken meets quarterback Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland and playfully recalls that Cleveland “tried to draft you last year,” a moment tied to Deion Sanders’ explanation of why Sanders’ family asked Ravens/Eagles to pass. The exchange underscores Sanders’ rising role and hints at his future leadership in Cleveland under Monken.
New Browns coach Todd Monken reportedly has Travis Switzer as the frontrunner to be Cleveland's offensive coordinator, leveraging Switzer's nine seasons with Baltimore (including three as run-game coordinator alongside Monken); Monken has not yet named who will call plays.
New Browns head coach Todd Monken is starting to assemble his coaching staff, focusing on Ohio-tied candidates and younger coaches. Reports indicate he is interviewing Cincinnati native Akron alum Danny Breyer for an offensive role, while George Warhop returns as the offensive line coach. Bubba Ventrone has departed, and Dawgs By Nature’s Daily Dawg Chow roundup aggregates multiple Browns staff updates and related coverage.