Travis Switzer emerges as key hire as Todd Monken takes over Browns

The first major staffing move of the Cleveland Browns’ post-Kevin Stefanski reset is coming into focus: Travis Switzer is positioned to run the offense under new head coach Todd Monken, a pairing that signals an aggressive push to modernize a unit that sputtered through 2025. The hire would also deepen Cleveland’s pipeline from Baltimore and sharpen the spotlight on what happens next with Jim Schwartz and the quarterback room led by Shedeur Sanders.

Browns new head coach sets the direction

The Browns made their “browns head coach” decision official on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. ET, naming Todd Monken the franchise’s 19th full-time head coach. The move ended a long, sometimes messy search and immediately reframed “browns news” around two priorities: rebuilding an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league and stabilizing an organization that burned through momentum after a midseason slide.

Monken arrives with a résumé that has bounced between the NFL and college—useful context for anyone searching “todd monken coaching history.” His recent work came with the Baltimore Ravens, where he coordinated an explosive attack before taking on the much bigger job of fixing Cleveland’s.

Travis Switzer and the new offense

The offensive coordinator search moved quickly, and Travis Switzer has been widely framed as the leading choice to fill that role under Monken. If finalized, it would formalize a familiar working relationship from Baltimore and lean into a run-game identity that Cleveland hasn’t consistently owned in recent seasons—especially important with a young quarterback situation and a roster built to win with defense.

Switzer’s expected elevation is also why “akon tickets”-style urgency has shown up in NFL form: fans have been hammering ticketing-style queries for staff changes, including typos like “todd.monken” and “todd monkin,” while tracking “todd monken browns” and “browns coach” updates in real time.

George Warhop move signals trench focus

Cleveland’s first confirmed add on the staff is veteran offensive line coach George Warhop, a hire that underscores how the new regime wants to build from the inside out. Warhop’s return also reinforces a practical reality: regardless of who wins the quarterback job, the fastest path to competence is protecting the passer and making life easier with a dependable run game.

For a team that cycled through identity shifts over the last few seasons, the early staff construction suggests a clear blueprint—physicality up front, efficient offense, and a defense that can close games.

Jim Schwartz and the defense question

The biggest unresolved piece is whether Jim Schwartz stays. Cleveland’s defense has been the roster’s backbone, and uncertainty at coordinator can ripple into everything from free-agent decisions to draft priorities.

The tension is compounded by the public stature of Myles Garrett, who remains the face of the defense and a barometer for the locker room. Garrett has continued stacking accolades after a dominant 2025 season, and any hint of defensive instability becomes magnified when a team’s best unit is the one left waiting.

Shedeur Sanders and the QB plan

The Browns’ quarterback discussion is now unavoidable because Shedeur Sanders has moved from curiosity to central storyline. Sanders was added to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games roster on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at 12:38 p.m. ET—an attention-grabbing milestone that raises expectations heading into an offseason where development is the entire point.

Monken inherits a room that also includes Deshaun Watson and 2025 draft pick Dillon Gabriel. The immediate football question is simple: can the new staff accelerate Sanders’ processing and decision-making while keeping the offense stable enough to compete weekly?

Key takeaways

• Monken’s early staff moves prioritize offense and line play, with Switzer and Warhop shaping a likely run-first foundation.

• Schwartz’s status will influence how smoothly the transition goes for a defense that expects to contend right away.

• The quarterback plan will define the 2026 ceiling, as Sanders’ development becomes the most visible measuring stick of the new era.

Giants offensive coordinator fallout and the Ravens angle

Monken’s exit also created ripple effects elsewhere. The New York Giants are filling a vacant “giants offensive coordinator” job under new head coach John Harbaugh, who had been linked to Monken for that role before Cleveland hired him. That dynamic adds a final layer to the “ravens head coach” angle: Harbaugh now has to replace a top choice while Cleveland continues pulling familiar voices from Baltimore’s offensive ecosystem.

What comes next is less about splash and more about sequencing—finalizing the offensive staff, resolving the defensive leadership question, and setting clear competition rules at quarterback. If those steps land cleanly, the Browns can start 2026 with something they haven’t had in a while: an aligned plan.

Sources consulted: ClevelandBrowns.com, NFL.com, ESPN, Pro Football Talk, Sports Illustrated, New York Post