The Cleveland Browns have made their choice. After a three-week search, the organization has named a new head coach, and the decision is already creating waves among the fanbase.

The Browns have announced that the former Ravens' offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, will be their new head coach.

"Monken, 59, returns to Cleveland for his second stint with the organization after he was the offensive coordinator for the Browns in 2019," the team announced via their website, and the fans are stunned.

The Haslams went on to add, "We welcome Todd, Terri, and the rest of the Monken family back to the Browns and look forward to him establishing the winning culture that will lead our team to the success our fans so deserve."

The team first interviewed him on January 10th and then conducted the second one 10 days later, but with big names like Nathan Scheelhaase and Grant Udinski, fans did not expect the announcement.

Dawg Pound Is Not In Line With Todd Monken as Browns' HC

One fan commented, "As he bad mouthed the Browns to other coaches while he was here, great work Jimmy, another poor decision."

Monken, while working under Freddie Kitchens, reportedly called the Browns a “total mess” in 2019. And while the offense was dismal that year under Kitchens' calls, ranking 22nd in the NFL (340.9 yards per game), Monken's comments did not sit right with fans. Moreover, after his previous stint, fans feel the team is repeating past mistakes.

"Todd returning to Cleveland is a desperate move for a franchise that keeps recycling the same failed energy. Giving him the keys to Deshaun Watson’s massive, underperforming contract is a recipe for another sub-500 season..."

Monken will now have to manage a QB situation that includes Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel. Considering his highly offensive scheme, we might see more of Watson, and after three years with less than 20 touchdowns, fans aren't too happy about it.

"He must’ve been the only candidate to agree to keep Schwartz as D coordinator. A joke of a hire by a joke of a franchise," wrote one other user.

The Browns wanted to retain Schwartz after he turned their defense into the fourth-best this year (283.6 yards per game). Monken's willingness to keep Schwartz may have factored in the decision.

But could this decision backfire? "If I am Jim Schwartz I am on the first plane out of CLE. That defense absolutely loved him, they played hard for him. He absolutely should have been the HC."

According to reports coming out of Cleveland, Schwartz isn't happy. After putting up one of the team's best defensive performances in the season, Schwartz was a frontrunner for the HC job. Whether he stays on remains to be seen.

But it's not all angry fans. There's been some support with one fan even saying, "I’m interested to see if any actual Browns “fans” looked at Monken’s time as OC of the Browns in 2019…check the offensive stats then return."

Under him, the team’s offense saw Nick Chubb rush for 1,494 yards and 8 TDs. Baker Mayfield threw for a then-career-high 3,827 yards and 22 TDs, and Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. each posted 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar