A new report offers extra details on why the Cleveland Browns surprisingly picked Todd Monken to be their next head coach. As well as how he might be able to talk defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz out of plans to leave the team.
Heading into Wednesday, Cleveland was among the few franchises still looking to pick a new head coach. However, the position remained open because several candidates dropped out of the interview process last week over some unusual requests made by the team, including writing an essay about why they deserved the job.
Well, yesterday the search ended, and the Browns picked the man who will replace Kevin Stefanski. But, it wasn’t who many expected, and instead, former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken was the choice. It is a move that has confused many in their fanbase.
During an appearance on 97.1 The Fan’s T-Bone & Tyvis, CBS Sports NFL reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala offered up new insight on why Monken got the job, and being the opposite of Stefanski was a key reason.
She claimed Monken’s hard-nosed and direct approach, and his honesty — even if it bothered players or coaches — was part of the appeal for the Browns. They wanted a coach who wouldn’t coddle players and would give them tough love.
Can Todd Monken lure Jim Schwartz back to the Browns?
The Browns’ hiring Monken also had unexpected ramifications. DC Jim Schwartz was a top candidate for the job, and seemingly thought he was the favorite to get the gig. However, when team officials informed him that they were going in a different direction, it upset the 59-year-old, and he told those close to him he was done working with the team. He is still under contract for another season.
It means Monken must replace a coach who turned the Browns’ defense into one of the better units in the league over the last few seasons. Well, maybe not.
During her appearance, Kinkhabwala brought up the story of when former Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan was being interviewed for head coaching jobs a few years ago, his father, veteran NFL coach Bill Callahan, told him that if he was hired, he would not join him. He loved being the offensive line coach for the Browns at that time and wanted to stay with his players.
Kinkhabwala suggested that Monken might be able to appeal to Schwartz to stick around for one more season with the Browns defensive players he has created a strong bond with. Several of his top stars reportedly urged management this offseason to make him their next head coach. It’s unclear if that would work at all, but it is certainly worth a try to keep a pretty good coach on staff.
