BEREA, Ohio — Todd Monken is in the process of forming his coaching staff as the newly appointed head coach of the Cleveland Browns, although the future role of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz remains uncertain.
During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Monken acknowledged his discussions with Schwartz, who reportedly expressed his intent not to return to Cleveland. This follows Schwartz being overlooked for the head coaching position after the Browns parted ways with Kevin Stefanski. Monken refrained from delving into details about Schwartz’s status, stating that it would be “a little inappropriate for me to comment about that at this time.”
Monken emphasized, “I didn’t take this job because of Jim Schwartz. I have a lot of respect for Jim Schwartz, as I would hope he has for me. But I took it because of the players that are here, the ownership, [general manager] Andrew Berry, and the ability to build this roster from the ground up on the offensive side.” He added, “When I was preparing for the Cleveland Browns, I wasn’t trying to chip Jim Schwartz. I was chipping Myles Garrett.”
Schwartz was a key contender for the Browns’ head coaching vacancy and has now faced the disappointment of being passed over for the position twice, including in 2020 when Cleveland hired Stefanski. Despite being under contract through the 2026 season, Schwartz’s future with the team remains a topic of speculation, especially as he has expressed a desire to return to a head coaching role.
Though ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has reported that Monken is open to keeping Schwartz in his current role, there’s “no guarantee” regarding Schwartz’s status as he aims to lead a team as head coach once more. The Browns, however, have the contractual power to refuse any approaches from teams seeking Schwartz’s expertise.
In his three seasons with Cleveland, Schwartz has led the defense to impressive results, with the team allowing the fewest yards in the league since 2023. Notably, defensive star Myles Garrett recently claimed a Defensive Player of the Year award and is poised to win a second after setting a new NFL record for single-season sacks.
As Monken embarks on his first head coaching role in the NFL, he aims to revamp an offense that has struggled significantly, finishing last in points scored per game over the past seasons, averaging only 15.8 points. The Browns had a disappointing 5-12 record in 2025 and stand with just an 8-26 mark over their last two campaigns.
Monken, who will continue to call offensive plays, has not confirmed Shedeur Sanders as the starting quarterback, noting that such decisions are “still to be determined.” Expressing enthusiasm about coaching the quarterbacks in the room, Monken stated, “Am I excited about Shedeur? Am I excited about all the quarterbacks in the room? Am I excited to coach this football team? Absolutely. I can’t wait for them to get back and for us to get started.”
This new chapter under Monken’s leadership offers fans hope for a rejuvenated offense and a stronger season ahead.