The Cleveland Browns have hired Todd Monken as their next head coach, choosing him over current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz — a decision that could have major ripple effects across the organization moving forward.
Monken, Schwartz, and Los Angeles Rams pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase emerged as the three finalists to replace Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland. Ultimately, the Browns went with Monken, who is expected to take over and rebuild an offense that struggled to find any semblance of consistency.
But the choice may come with immediate fallout on the other side of the ball. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Schwartz did not take the news well, and his reaction has already raised concerns about how things could unfold internally — even though he remains under contract for next season.
“Schwartz expected to get the HC job, especially after Grant Udinski dropped out. When informed this morning that the job was going to Todd Monken, Schwartz said goodbye to a few people and angrily told others he was ‘done’ with the Browns,” Schultz reported. “Several players, including Myles Garrett, have a strong affinity for Schwartz. Schwartz is under contract with the Browns, so he can’t just leave. But as one source put it: ‘If it has to get ugly, Schwartz is someone who will be perfectly fine making it ugly.’”
Browns Star Myles Garrett Player to Watch After Monken Hire
Cleveland.com’s Ashley Bastock also cautioned that the Browns may have underestimated the consequences of passing over Schwartz, particularly when it comes to key players in their locker room who backed their DC for the job.
“I don’t know that people understand how bad it could get for Browns if Schwartz leaves, and on bad terms,” Bastock said. “Players on that defense, including Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, love playing for Jim. The impact of the ripple effect could be incomprehensible.”
If Schwartz truly feels slighted, the Browns could quickly find themselves dealing with a messy situation, which isn’t unfamiliar. Garrett demanded a trade last offseason, saying that he wanted to play for a contender. The Browns and Garrett eventually agreed to a lucrative extension. But after a 5-12 campaign, an uncertain quarterback situation and a controversial hire, Garrett may revisit that plan.
Under Schwartz, the Browns finished the year allowing the fourth-fewest total yards per game (283.6) and the third-fewest passing yards per game (167.2). They also recorded 53 sacks — a franchise record — and tied for second in the NFL with eight defensive touchdowns.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Reacts to Todd Monken Hire
The defensive side of the ball is still a major question, but the Browns didn’t hire Monken to fix the defense — they hired him to resuscitate an offense that was miserable last season. Cleveland finished near the bottom of the league in virtually every meaningful category, averaging just 262.1 total yards and 16.4 points per game.
One of the biggest immediate winners from Monken landing in Cleveland could be Shedeur Sanders, who made seven starts as a fifth-round rookie. Sanders wasted no time reacting to the news on social media.
“Time for work,” Sanders wrote, reposting the announcement of Monken’s hiring.
That said, the Browns still haven’t committed to Sanders as the guy moving forward. Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel remain under contract, and Cleveland could still explore adding another quarterback through free agency, a trade, or the draft.
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