The Cleveland Browns have a new head coach. Former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is now a head coach after years of being an offensive coordinator for many years. Monken has a history of being in Cleveland, going back to 2019, but he’s back now as the head coach of a football team. Monken spent the past three years with the Baltimore Ravens as their offensive coordinator, and he helped the Ravens passing offense grow. Quarterback Lamar Jackson won another MVP under Monken as he evolved
as a passer.
Monken will have a difficult task of rebuilding this Browns offense, as well as finding a quarterback who can run the offense that he requires. However, the real question is whether Monken will be the long-term solution or will be a potential bridge for a new coach in the future?
The concept of a “bridge head coach” was mentioned by ESPN’s Evan Cohen in relation to potentially hiring DC Jim Schwartz for the top job:
It’s a surprise that the Browns decided not to go with a younger, vibrant option as their head coach, looking to find the next Sean McVay or Ben Johnson. The team opted for the safer choice in Monken, whom many viewed as the fallback plan. Monken is not necessarily young, but he’s not old (he’ll be 60 in February). It is a possibility that Monken could be a one-and-done in Cleveland after the upcoming season or relieved of his duties in two or three years.
It’s too early to make assumptions because, at the end of the da,y no one knows the outcome with the NFL draft and NFL free agency still to come.
Monken could be the bridge coach for another head coach as some of the younger coaches in this interview cycle get more experience over the next few seasons. That doesn’t mean that is the plan, or even a problem. Monken could help stabilize the team over the next year, two or three, before giving way to the future of the team.
However, it is also a possibility that Monken could be the long-term option for the Browns.
Before Cleveland hired Kevin Stefanski in 2020, the longest a Browns head coach had stayed was 2 years. Stefanski was the longest tenured coach for the Browns since The Return, and he won two Coach of the Year awards as well as guiding the team to a playoff berth two of his six years with the team. Stability matters, and Cleveland was able to be stable for a long time (in NFL terms) at the head coaching position.
Monken has had success before; he was a part of two national championship teams with the University of Georgia Bulldogs, and we all know about what he did in Baltimore. Monken is a different style of coach from Stefanski in terms of personality, but he knows how to develop offenses and quarterbacks. If Cleveland is able to find something in Monken and if he’s able to find a quarterback, then the Browns will be set for the next couple of years. Monken has been waiting for this opportunity, and he finally will get it, and it’s sure that he will make the most out of it.
Time will tell, but if Monken turns out to be the guy. Even if that is only for a few seasons, that is okay. A “bridge” quarterback is often a solid option without a long future with a team. Monken could be a “bridge” head coach, a solid option without a long future with the team, and that could still be a successful hire.
