The honeymoon period may already be over for Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken. Just months after taking over in Cleveland, Monken is reportedly facing early questions about his long-term future as concerns continue to swirl around the franchise’s quarterback situation and overall direction.
According to Fox Sports NFL reporter Henry McKenna, both Monken and Browns general manager Andrew Berry could be under pressure before the end of the 2026 season. In a report published this week, McKenna pointed to Cleveland’s roster construction, salary cap challenges, and uncertain quarterback outlook as major issues hanging over the organization.
“Yeah, that’s right, they could both get fired,” McKenna wrote while discussing the possibility of the Browns positioning themselves for a high pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
He also noted that some around the league viewed Cleveland’s opening as a difficult job because of financial constraints and quarterback instability.
The timing of the report stands out because Monken only recently arrived in Cleveland after a successful run with the Baltimore Ravens. During his three seasons as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, the Ravens consistently fielded one of the NFL’s stronger offenses, finishing inside the league’s top 10 in both 2023 and 2024. Cleveland hired him in January, hoping he could stabilize an offense that had struggled to find consistency for years.
Instead, one of Monken’s biggest early challenges has become sorting out the quarterback competition. Deshaun Watson returned after missing the 2025 season while recovering from an Achilles injury, but second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders has continued to gain attention inside the organization. Sanders recently described Monken’s arrival as bringing a “new vibe” and “new energy” to the Browns during offseason workouts.
That momentum followed an eventful rookie season for Sanders. After beginning the year buried on the depth chart, the former Colorado star eventually started seven games and led Cleveland to late-season wins over division rivals. He later earned a Pro Bowl replacement nod, becoming one of the few late-round rookies to receive that recognition early in his career.
Still, Cleveland enters the season with major uncertainty. McKenna suggested that a difficult year combined with a strong 2027 quarterback class could reshape the franchise’s plans entirely, potentially allowing the Browns to reset around a future draft pick and another coaching hire.
