New Cleveland head coach Todd Monken didn’t waste any time making an impression. In his first meeting with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Monken made a playful joke about the Baltimore Ravens draft situation and Lamar Jackson. It was a bold way to break the ice with his new quarterback.
The joke touched on a specific piece of recent history. Sanders had turned down the Ravens when they tried to draft him because Lamar Jackson was already the starting quarterback there. Sanders wanted a clear path to start right away, which is why he ended up with the Browns instead.
The timing makes Monken’s joke even more interesting. Jackson actually missed some games due to injuries during the 2025 season. If Sanders had gone to Baltimore, he might have gotten those starting opportunities he wanted after all. According to ClutchPoints, Monken brought this up to show Sanders the past is behind them now.
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Monken’s experience could bring fresh energy to Cleveland
This interaction shows the organization is trying to move forward after a difficult year. However, fans are split on the Monken hire. Many people aren’t sure what to think about the team’s direction. Monken has shown confidence and humor, but he’ll need to deliver wins to prove himself.
Monken brings plenty of coaching experience, even though this is his first NFL head coaching job. He’s been coaching since 1989, starting as a Graduate Assistant at Grand Valley State. He spent 18 years in college football before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars as Wide Receivers Coach. He also served as head coach at the University of Mississippi from 2013 to 2015.
This isn’t Monken’s first time with the Browns. He’s been an offensive coordinator three times in the NFL, including one year with Cleveland in 2019. Most recently, he spent the last two seasons as offensive coordinator for the Ravens. This background means he knows the AFC North rivalry well, which probably explains why he felt comfortable making that Ravens joke. Other NFL players have also been making headlines off the field, including Josh Allen’s comments about parenting challenges.
Monken now needs to help Sanders improve after a tough rookie season. Sanders finished with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He showed some running ability with 21 rushes for 169 yards and one touchdown, but those 10 interceptions are a major concern.
Sanders will have a full offseason to work with Monken and learn his system. This should help him develop and get better. Meanwhile, athletes across sports continue making personal news, as seen when Rui Hachimura addressed dating speculation recently. Monken has shown confidence and brought energy to Cleveland. Now everyone is waiting to see if he can turn that into actual wins on the field.
Published: Jan 30, 2026 02:30 pm