Shedeur Sanders took to social media with a three-word reaction after the Cleveland Browns hired Todd Monken as their next head coach.
Following a lengthy search, the Browns officially named Monken their new head coach on Wednesday. He was selected over current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
“We are very excited to name Todd Monken the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns,” owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “Todd is highly intelligent, and his experienced, innovative offensive mindset has been at the forefront of constructing productive and successful offenses at the NFL and collegiate level over the last 20 years. He is an outstanding leader and has a clear vision to lead our team as a strong communicator who values trust with his players but also accountability and preparation.”
Monken’s hiring gives Cleveland an offensive-minded leader at the helm — a significant shift for a franchise still searching for long-term stability at quarterback. What the move means for Sanders remains unclear, as the rookie wasn’t officially named the starter moving forward after making seven starts to close out the season. Still, Sanders appears fired up about the hire.
“Time for work,” Sanders wrote on Instagram while sharing the Monken news, adding a fire emoji and a watch emoji.
Monken’s Ravens Were Linked to Browns Shedeur Sanders
An interesting wrinkle in the Monken hiring is that the Baltimore Ravens, Monken’s last stop, were linked to Sanders during the NFL Draft. However, Sanders let the Ravens know he didn’t want to go there, seeing it as a tough path to the field with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson entrenched as the starter. Sanders eventually landed with the Browns at pick No. 144.
It’s unknown how much Monken was involved in the idea of taking Sanders with the Ravens. But it’s clear that the Browns’ anemic offense — and potentially Sanders — should see a significant boost with Monken’s arrival.
Monken had been Baltimore’s offensive coordinator for the past three seasons after joining the staff in 2023, and the results speak for themselves. In his first year calling plays, Lamar Jackson captured the NFL MVP award for the second time in his career. Then in Monken’s second season, the Ravens finished with the No. 1 offense in the NFL for the first time in franchise history.
Across Monken’s three-year run, Baltimore’s offense has consistently been one of the best units in football, ranking top-five leaguewide in a number of key categories. The Ravens lead the NFL in rushing yards over that span (8,512 total), averaging 166.9 yards per game. They rank second in total scrimmage yards (19,860), third in points per game (27.9), third in rushing touchdowns (70), and fifth in receiving touchdowns (91).
Todd Monken to Have Say in Shedeur Sanders’ Future
Sanders went 3-4 as the starter, passing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The numbers were not gaudy, but he played behind a patchwork offensive line and a lack of weapons.
After the season, Browns general manager Andrew Berry declined to commit to Sanders. Berry added that the next head coach in Cleveland would have a big say on the quarterback situation moving forward.
“I think we saw a lot of progress with Shedeur this year. I think that’s both mentally, physically, playing the position. He’s still very much a work in progress like many rookie quarterbacks are,” Berry said. “Now that all being said, we’re going to do our work on the quarterback market. It’s too important of a position and it’s something that has to be solidified. I can’t sit here and tell you today, you know, whether the solution for or the starter in 2026 is internal or external. But it’s something that we’re going to work through over the next several weeks. And quite honestly, the new head coach will also have a lot of input into that as well.”
The Browns also have former Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel under contract for next season.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Issues 3-Word Message on Todd Monken Hire