Todd Monken is reportedly staying in the AFC North as head coach for one of the Ravens' rivals.
The Cleveland Browns are hiring Monken as their next head coach, the team announced Wednesday.
It will be Monken's first opportunity as an NFL head coach, after spending the last three seasons as the Ravens' offensive coordinator. Monken directed a top-10 offense in his first two seasons in Baltimore, including the 2024 season when the Ravens led the league in yards per game (424.9) and became the first team to throw for at least 4,000 yards and rush for at least 3,000.
The 59-year-old Monken's offensive knowledge and familiarity with the division made him the most attractive choice for the Browns, who fired Kevin Stefanski after the season. Monken is the third new head coach in the AFC North to be hired this offseason, joining the Ravens' Jesse Minter and Mike McCarthy of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Monken has familiarity with the Browns' organization from spending one season as their offensive coordinator in 2019. His only experience as a head coach was a three-year stint with Southern Mississippi (2013-15). Since then, he has been an offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018) and Cleveland. He also won back-to-back national championships as Georgia's offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022 before leaving to join the Ravens.
Minter will look to name the Ravens' next offensive coordinator in the near future as he builds his staff.
Rams Passing Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, who the Ravens interviewed for their head coach opening, was a candidate for the Browns' job. With Monken now taking the helm, Scheelhaase is reportedly expected to stay in Los Angeles.
Had Monken not joined the Browns, he was expected to reunite with New York Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh as his offensive coordinator. Instead, Monken will lead the Browns and add more intrigue to the Ravens-Browns rivalry when they meet at least twice next season.
