Tag: Todd Monken

Coach Todd Monken talks to the press at the Browns OTA camp in Berea on May 20, 2026.

Browns coach Todd Monken: Drafting QB Brendan Sorsby is ‘slippery slope’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

First-year head coach Todd Monken anticipates there could be peril on the periphery if the Cleveland Browns select Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby in a potential NFL supplemental draft should he lose college eligibility because of gambling.

Monken, stressing that he was speaking for himself and not the Browns organization, called the decision a “slippery slope” given Sorsby’s situation regardless of his proven talent and skill level.

“I don’t think we’re in a position to want to go down that road,” Monken said at the Browns Foundation Golf Tournament. “That’s my opinion. That’s not (general manager Andrew Berry’s).

“I like the quarterbacks that we have. I think that’s a slippery slope when you go down that, irrespective of talent, right?” Monken continued. “In terms of the situation he’s (put) himself in, we all know what that is. He put himself in that situation. And we’ve seen in other sports with players that have been banned for life from playing in professional sports.

“But from my end of it, kind of a tough angle to go down that road and think that’s going to be your franchise quarterback if he’s ever eligible to even play in the NFL.”

Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech from Cincinnati this offseason and was the Red Raiders’ projected starter for 2026. ESPN ranked Sorsby the No. 1 overall transfer in this year’s class.

But Sorsby has been fighting for his college eligibility after revelations of rampant betting led the NCAA to revoke his eligibility in April and deny his request for reinstatement in May. The NCAA prohibits athletes and employees from wagering on NCAA events in which a championship is held, which includes football.

Sorsby is seeking an injunction against the NCAA to play in 2026, but should that fail, an option could be to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft.

The Browns’ Berry was asked on Tuesday about Sorsby and was not as absolute in his answer as Monken was.

“No different than we do every year,” Berry said. “We’ll do the work on all the prospects, and then we’ll make the appropriate decision for the organization.”

The Browns’ quarterback depth chart includes veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year players Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel as well as 2026 sixth-round draft pick Taylen Green.

A judge in Lubbock County, Texas, did not make a ruling on Sorby’s request for a temporary injunction after a hearing Monday. Judge Ken Curry requested additional documentation be provided before he renders his verdict, which could happen in the upcoming days, according to ESPN.

Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, requested a decision be made by June 15 to allow Sorsby a window to determine whether to apply for the NFL supplement draft, which carries a June 22 deadline.

Curry heard arguments from Sorsby’s team and the NCAA as to why Sorsby should be allowed to return to the field after allegedly making thousands of impermissible bets on college and pro sports — including his own team while at Indiana.

Sorsby placed at least 40 bets on Indiana football as a redshirt freshman with the Hoosiers, court documents revealed.

Those ranged from $1 to $114 and totaled at least $850 in September and October of 2022, while he was redshirting. Sorsby said in a letter to the NCAA that he never bet in a game he played in, nor ever bet against his team.

The quarterback wagered about $90,000 over a four-year period using sportsbook accounts registered to a family member and friends, with 2,900 bets totaling more than $30,000 coming from June 2022 to December 2023 alone. Last week, Sorsby revealed that he completed a 35-day, in-patient rehab stay in Arizona to treat “a diagnosed gambling addiction and anxiety disorder.”

NCAA attorney Taylor Askew said on Monday that if an injunction is granted, the collegiate governing body would in effect become the first sports league in the U.S. that could not punish its athletes from betting on its own contests.

The NFL supplemental draft was last held in 2019. Created in 1977, it was launched to give players with “sudden eligibility changes” a ladder from college to the NFL. However, the league would likely closely review the investigation into Sorsby’s off-field activity before determining whether to hold the special draft in July.

–Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates as he begins his chase for the NFL sack record after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the second half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sept. 7, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Browns ‘not concerned’ Myles Garrett is absent from offseason program

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken is not worried about star defensive end Myles Garrett missing the start of this week’s voluntary portion of the offseason program.

Garrett, who broke the NFL single-season sack record last season, had the language of his contract modified this offseason and often elects to participate in his own workouts away from the team.

“Myles will be ready. I’m not worried about Myles,” Monken said Wednesday. “This is voluntary for our players to be here. I think if you asked every coach in the NFL, would they like every player to be there? Of course. I think there’s certain parts of what we do from a connection standpoint that I think is important to be here (as well as) from a schematic standpoint. From a work standpoint? Not so much.

“And it is our job to make it to where the guys want to be here. I mean, not just by the job, but by the development, the camaraderie, being part of a team. And hell, I’ve been a part of a team since I was 5 years old — there’s nothing like it. I wouldn’t miss it, because that’s me, that’s how I’m wired. But it is voluntary.”

Garrett, 30, racked up 23 sacks in 2025 in his ninth season with Cleveland, which drafted him first overall in 2017. It was the first year of a four-year, $160 million extension he signed after initially requesting a trade last offseason.

Garrett has had double-digit sacks in each of his last eight seasons but blew past his previous career high of 16 set in 2021 and 2022.

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year’s 125.5 career sacks over 134 career games (131 starts) are tied for 20th all-time and rank third among active players behind Von Miller (138.5) and Cameron Jordan (132).

–Field Level Media

Aug 5, 2024; Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz during a press conference at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Jim Schwartz resigns as Browns’ defensive coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jim Schwartz resigned from his job as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, the team announced Friday.

Schwartz reportedly was unhappy when the Browns hired Todd Monken instead of him as their head coach.

“Yesterday, Jim Schwartz submitted his letter of resignation as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns,” the team said in a statement. “We’d like to thank Jim for his contributions to our organization over the last three seasons. Our search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately.”

While Schwartz remains under contract with the team, he plans to sit out the 2026 season, per The Athletic. Schwartz, 59, previously was the head coach of the Detroit Lions (2009-13). This is the first head coaching opportunity for the 61-year-old Monken.

Schwartz was the defensive coordinator of the Browns the past three seasons. With Myles Garrett, who set the NFL single-season record for sacks (23) in 2025 to anchor the defense, Cleveland’s unit was one of the NFL’s best during his tenure.

The team finished among the leaders in total yards allowed — first in 2023 and fourth in 2025.

During interviews with potential head coaching candidates, the Browns’ top brass, including owner Jimmy Haslam, expressed they wanted Schwartz to remain as defensive coordinator.

Monken, Schwartz and Rams pass coordinator Nate Scheelhaase were the finalists. Monken’s experience is on the offensive side of the ball, serving as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens the past three seasons.

Now, Monken is without both coordinators. Tommy Rees, the OC in 2025, accepted the same position in Atlanta.

Rees will be reunited with the coach Monken replaced, Kevin Stefanski, who is the new head coach of the Falcons after being dismissed by the Browns on Jan. 5.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Browns DC Jim Schwartz won’t return after head coach snub

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Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz doesn’t intend to return for a fourth season in Cleveland after he was interviewed multiple times but ultimately passed over for the head coaching vacancy, according to multiple reports.

The Browns hired former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their next head coach on Wednesday. Schwartz is under contract for the 2026 season and was seen as a key retention piece for the new head coach by the franchise but reportedly has other ideas.

Schwartz, who was brought in ahead of the 2023 season under former head coach Kevin Stefanski, has built a defense which consistently ranked among the best in the league.

Schwartz, 59, earned the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award in his first season in Cleveland in 2023. His unit led the league in total defense (270.2 yards per game), and the Browns made just their second playoff appearance since 2002.

This year’s Cleveland defense ranked fourth in total defense (283.6) and saw defensive end Myles Garrett break the NFL’s single-season sacks record (23) even though the team won just five games.

Schwartz was previously head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009-13, amassing a 29-51 record with one winning season and playoff appearance in 2011. He’s previously worked as defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans (2001-08), Buffalo Bills (2014) and Philadelphia Eagles (2016-20), and as a senior defensive assistant for Tennessee (2021-22).

–Field Level Media

Reports: Browns hiring Todd Monken as head coach

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The Cleveland Browns will name Todd Monken as their next head coach, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.

Monken spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, where he worked with former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, but has experience with the Browns franchise. In 2019, he was the offensive coordinator when Cleveland finished 6-10, resulting in the firing of head coach Freddie Kitchens and his staff.

Monken turns 60 on Feb. 5.

This is the first NFL head coaching job for Monken, who held the same position at Southern Miss (2013-15). The team was 13-25 under Monken, who led the Golden Eagles to a 9-5 record and a bowl game in his final season.

Monken has spent the latter half of his career zigzagging from college to the NFL and back again. Before taking the job at Southern Miss, he spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach on the offensive side of the ball in college, then took his first NFL job coaching wide receivers for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2007-10).

He left Southern Miss to become the offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-17) and subsequently held the same job with the Browns, the University of Georgia (2020-22) and the Ravens.

The Browns interviewed nine candidates to find a replacement for Kevin Stefanski, who was fired earlier this month after a 5-12 season. The Browns finished above .500 in two of his six seasons. The Atlanta Falcons subsequently hired Stefanski for their head coach opening.

Among the candidates, five were interviewed a second time: Monken, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and Washington Commanders run game coordinator Anthony Lynn.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Grant Udinski, 30, to have 2nd interview with Browns

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns requested a second interview with Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski for their available head coaching position, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.

It is slated to be an in-person interview for Udinski, who also spoke to the Browns on Saturday.

Udinski just turned 30 last week and would be the youngest head coach in NFL history should he land the job. Sean McVay was 30 years and 353 days old when he landed his current gig in 2017 as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.

Udinski joins Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, among others, in landing a second interview.

Udinski just concluded his first season on the coaching staff of the Jaguars, who were eliminated from the playoffs with a 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round.

Udinski broke into coaching at Baylor in 2019. Matt Rhule, then the Baylor head coach, became the Carolina Panthers’ head coach the next year and Udinski joined him.

Following two seasons with the Panthers, Udinski was hired by the Vikings in 2022 as assistant to the head coach/special projects. He became Minnesota’s assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023, and in 2024 he received the title of assistant offensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens coordinator Todd Monken on the field before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Ravens OC Todd Monken responds to John Harbaugh’s critique of KC plan

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Only the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills have more points than the Baltimore Ravens this season, so head coach John Harbaugh’s critique of the approach and execution of play-caller Todd Monken at Kansas City raised a few eyebrows.

Monken said he wasn’t alarmed by anything Harbaugh said on the heels of the Ravens’ third loss in four games, 37-20 to the Chiefs. The Ravens had a season-low 20 points, went 3 of 10 on third downs and 1 of 4 on fourth down in a game that ended with quarterback Lamar Jackson on the sideline nursing a hamstring injury.

“There’s not one thing John said that we didn’t already talk about. Not one thing. So, there was nothing about it that I hadn’t already heard or that he didn’t already feel,” Monken said Friday. “One thing I’ve done throughout my career is that you’ve got to look at what you do. How do we scheme it? What was our plan?

“When it’s below the line (expected), you have to own it and fix it. That’s what you do. That’s what we do as human beings. That’s how I got to where I am now. You look at it, and you say, ‘OK, was that good enough?’ The expectation here is to be elite, and we’ve been elite. We’re going to continue to be elite, but I have to do it better. We’ve got to do it better.”

The Ravens are third in the NFL with 131 points — Detroit has 137, Buffalo 133 — but have given up 133. A taxed defense is dealing with its own stack of injuries.

At Kansas City, Harbaugh also said the Ravens didn’t follow through on a team-wide game plan to handle the Chiefs’ pass-rush pressure. Monken was working with a familiar call sheet, but Baltimore left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), center Tyler Linderbaum (calf) functioning at reduced capacity and Jackson reportedly playing more than two quarters with a strained hamstring before hitting the bench in favor of Cooper Rush.

“I already addressed it. We’ve already talked about it. We didn’t execute the way we planned,” Monken said.

The Ravens have allowed 15 sacks in four games and Jackson was sacked seven times the last time Baltimore played at home in Week 3, a 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Jackson did not practice again Friday and was idle most of the week during on-field portions of team workouts. He could miss his first game due to injury since 2022, when he suffered a sprained knee and sat out the final five games of the regular season and the playoff loss to the Bengals.

Rush, 4-4 last season as Dak Prescott’s injury replacement for the Cowboys, is 9-5 in his career as a starter. Monken said he and Rush have worked overtime to be ready for any instance when Jackson can’t take the field.

“As athletic as Coop is, some of those things are not going to look the same as Lamar,” Monken said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t still be effective and efficient.”

Sunday is the first of three consecutive home games for Baltimore. The Ravens play at home again next week, facing the Los Angeles Rams (3-2), before a bye in Week 7.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens coordinator Todd Monken on the field before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Report: Ravens to extend contract of OC Todd Monken

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Baltimore is working on a contract extension with offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who guided the Ravens to the No. 1 offense in total yards and rushing average this season, ESPN reported on Monday.

After each of the past two seasons in Baltimore, the 58-year-old Monken has drawn interest from NFL teams with vacant head coaching positions, including the Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers following the 2023 season, as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears since the 2024 regular season ended.

“He’s an old-school football coach with kind of a new-school and creative mind,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said last week. “I really am excited about 3.0, that iteration of this offense going forward, because we found ourselves through the last offseason and into this season, in terms of how we want to organize the offense and tie it all together and use the different platforms that you can use.”

The Ravens averaged 424.9 total yards and 187.6 rushing yards to lead the league. Their average of 30.5 points per game was third. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, a finalist for NFL Most Valuable Player, completed 316 of 474 passes (66.7 percent) for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns — all career highs. Jackson also rushed for 915 yards and four TDs.

Baltimore rushed for a league-best 156.5 yards per game in 2023.

Monken came to Baltimore after spending three years as the OC and quarterbacks coach at the University of Georgia, which captured national championships in 2021 and 2022.

His previous NFL experience includes being the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016-18. He also was the Jaguars’ wide receivers coach in 2007-10.

Monken also was head coach for Southern Mississippi (2013-15), where his teams went a combined 13-25, including 9-5 in 2015.

–Field Level Media

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bears interview three more for head coaching vacancy

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The Chicago Bears have interviewed three candidates for their head coaching position since Friday.

The Bears announced Saturday they had met with with Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. On Friday, they confirmed interviews with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

The Bears (5-12) fired head coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29 after a 4-8 start.

Flores, 43, has been with the Vikings for two seasons after serving as linebackers coach and senior defensive assistant with Pittsburgh in 2022. He was 24-25 as head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019-21.

Brady, 35, was officially named the Bills’ offensive coordinator last January after holding the interim tag since Ken Dorsey’s firing in mid-November 2023. He was the OC for the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21.

Monken, 58, is in his second season with Baltimore. He also was an OC with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-18) and Cleveland Browns (2019) and was the head coach at Southern Miss from 2013-15.

The Bears have cast a wide net in their search, including an interview with interim coach Thomas Brown. Other names linked to the vacancy include former NFL head coaches Pete Carroll, Mike McCarthy, Ron Rivera and Arthur Smith, and coordinators Aaron Glenn, Ben Johnson, Mike Kafka, Drew Petzing and Anthony Weaver.

The Bears reportedly were rebuffed when they asked the Pittsburgh Steelers to discuss a potential trade for head coach Mike Tomlin, ESPN reported Saturday.

–Field Level Media

1. Todd Monken, Georgia offensive coordinator, $2,005,000 Syndication Online Athens

Ravens hire Georgia’s Todd Monken as OC

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The Baltimore Ravens named Todd Monken their new offensive coordinator on Tuesday.

Monken, 57, helped Georgia win back-to-back national championships in that role the past two seasons.

He replaces Greg Roman, who resigned from John Harbaugh’s staff in January after four seasons as OC and six overall as assistant coach.

The Ravens conducted 21 interviews with 14 candidates before announcing their decision.

“Todd’s leadership and coaching acumen were evident from the beginning,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “He has a proven track record for designing and teaching offensive systems that allow players to succeed at the highest level. We’re excited to get to work and begin building an offense that will help us compete for championships.”

Before spending the past three seasons with the Bulldogs, Monken was the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2019) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-18).

Monken also interviewed for the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator position this offseason.

Monken also has head coaching experience, going 13-25 in three seasons (2013-15) at Southern Miss.

The Ravens (10-7) finished 16th in the NFL in total offense and 19th in scoring offense during the 2022 campaign.

–Field Level Media