One week after former Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken became the new Cleveland Browns head coach, students are trying to be optimistic about next season.
Monken was hired by the Browns Jan. 28 to replace Kevin Stefanski.
According to Cleveland.com, Monken was the top choice of the members of the Cleveland Browns head coach search committee.
This hiring followed weeks of speculation about whom the Browns would hire, with names such as former Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh, Cleveland Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz, and Los Angeles Rams Pass Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase being considered by the public as a potential future Browns head coach.
Some students such as sophomore Josh Dunnings look to the next Browns season hopefully in light of the hiring. “I feel like Monken will be a good fit to help the Browns succeed a little more,” he said.
Sophomore Braelynn Crockett, who is a Ravens fan, predicts that the team will improve. “I can see them going 10-7,” he said. The Browns finished 5-12 this year.
Sophomore Elijah McMullen holds a pessimistic view of the Browns’ future and Monken. “Our offensive output — I don’t see it improving from last year,” he said. “I don’t have that much confidence in him. Even as an offensive coordinator for the Ravens, he wasn’t the best.”
Crockett also expressed some doubts in Monken’s abilities. “He talks straight football, but also makes bad decisions in regard to playcalling,” he said.
McMullen said the Browns should have hired former Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott. McMullen said he was the best coach available. McDermott announced that he would take the upcoming season off.
Following the 2025 season, in which the Browns had the fourth best defense in terms of yards allowed, many, including Jim Schwartz himself, thought he would get the job.
Schwartz reportedly became emotional when informed he was passed over and began telling fellow coaches he would not be returning, per NFL Insider Tom Pelissero.
“He’s one of if not the best defensive coordinators in the league. I think we should do our absolute best to keep him,” McMullen said.
“I hope he doesn’t leave, but they [the Browns] are not giving him a legitimate reason to stay,” Dunnings said.
The chance of losing Schwartz means the Browns made the wrong decision, McMullen said.
Said Crockett, “I have, like, zero confidence with the Browns.”
