Todd Monken is in his first season as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach, and the franchise has made a significant financial commitment to the coach they hope can turn things around.
Monken agreed to a five-year contract with Cleveland in January after being hired to replace Kevin Stefanski. The initial announcement did not include financial terms, but those details have since emerged.
How much does Todd Monken make?
Monken’s contract with the Browns is reportedly worth $50 million over five years, according to reporting that emerged during the 2026 offseason. That works out to an average of $10 million per year.
Monken’s five-year contract with Cleveland runs through the 2030 season, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The Browns announced Monken as their new head coach on January 28, 2026, making him the franchise’s 19th full-time head coach.
It is also his first NFL head-coaching job. Monken previously served as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2019, although he did not call the team’s plays that season. He returned to the organization after spending the previous three seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator.
During his time in Baltimore, Monken worked with quarterback Lamar Jackson and helped oversee one of the NFL’s most productive offenses. The Ravens ranked first in the league in rushing yards per game, yards per play, and rushing average during Monken’s three-year run, according to the Browns.
Why did the Browns hire Todd Monken?
Cleveland made Monken’s offensive background a central part of their decision. The Browns were coming off a 5-12 season in 2025 and had struggled to generate points, finishing last in the NFL in scoring in 2025. The organization wanted a coach capable of developing a young offense while establishing a more consistent identity.
In addition to Monken’s experience with Jackson in Baltimore, he also has extensive college experience, including three seasons as Southern Miss’ head coach and a role on Georgia’s staff during the Bulldogs’ consecutive national championship seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry said the team was attracted to Monken’s direct, demanding, and detail-oriented approach when announcing the hire.
How has Todd Monken’s first season gone?
Monken’s first season in Cleveland has gotten off to a mixed start. The Browns opened the 2026 season with a 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars before rallying to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-19 in Week 2. Cleveland then defeated the Carolina Panthers 21-18 in Week 3 to enter Thursday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 2-1.
The early season has also featured a major quarterback storyline. Deshaun Watson was named Cleveland’s starter to begin the season, while rookie Shedeur Sanders was among the other quarterbacks competing for playing time. The Browns’ young offense has been one of the central challenges facing Monken in his first year.
The financial commitment makes Monken’s assignment clear. Cleveland is expecting their new head coach to develop that young group and build an offense capable of consistently competing. At $50 million over five years, Monken has one of the more substantial financial commitments among NFL head coaches.
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