Jun 25, 2026, 2:30 PM CUT

“Blitz you every third down”: Todd Monken reveals surprising message to Lamar Jackson

The Cleveland Browns hired Todd Monken in January as their new head coach. Before he arrived in Cleveland, Monken spent three seasons working with the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback, Lamar Jackson, as the team’s offensive coordinator.

During his interview with Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun, Monken revealed that Jackson reached out to him with a congratulatory text following the news of his new role with the Browns. To which, he fired back jokingly at his AFC North rival.

“We are going to blitz you every third down,” shared Monken with Wacker. “He laughed.”

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The Browns HC Monken reflected on his relationship with QB Lamar Jackson in an interview with Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun.

“First of all, Lamar is a tremendous person. I wouldn’t have this job without him,” revealed Monken. “It’s just that ultimately, we didn’t coach well enough, we didn’t play well enough. It’s really the other things that are involved in all that.”

Jackson had a memorable few years under Monken. During his 2023 season, Jackson finished with 3,678 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions and won his second NFL MVP award.

Their second year together during the 2024 season saw Jackson make career-high scores with 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns against four interceptions.

The 2025 season shaped differently as Jackson was limited to 13 games, and the Ravens didn’t make it to the playoffs. This led to the firing of head coach John Harbaugh and the coaching staff during the offseason. Harbaugh became the new HC of the New York Giants, and Monken became the Browns’ HC.

Monken concluded, saying that “everything has a shelf life,” and it was time for him and Jackson to go their separate ways. He is now focused on rebuilding the Browns and making them a contender soon.

Monken turns his focus to rebuilding the Browns after leaving Baltimore

Monken’s tenure in Cleveland has already been eventful, with the ongoing QB1 battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett’s trade, Joel Bitonio’s retirement, the drafting of several young players, and more.

After a promising set of OTAs and minicamp practice sessions, an NFL insider revealed that the Browns’ culture is changing under Monken.

“I do think there’s a different energy,” observed Zac Jackson of The Athletic on Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. “I think Todd Monken is trying to set a different culture. I would say, more than anything, the structure of practice and the way he went about his first set of practices was just different.”

Browns’ insider Mike Battaglino observed that the Myles Garrett trade may have benefitted Monken, who won’t have to deal with a different set of rules for a franchise icon.

With his focus on teaching immediately and resolving issues soon after the practice, the HC can now make sure that all players are on board with his coaching style, per Battaglino.

Do you think Todd Monken will be successful in making the Browns contenders again?

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Rudra Dubey