Shedeur Sanders appears to approve of the Cleveland Browns’ decision to hire Todd Monken as head coach. The endorsement comes as Browns fans and media critics question the move.
Many viewed Monken as a backup option after other candidates fell through. The Browns needed an offensive mind to fix their struggling unit.
Cleveland’s offense struggled significantly in 2025. The offensive line aged poorly, running back Nick Chubb wasn’t the same after his Pittsburgh injury, and the team failed to add threatening receivers since losing Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.
Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. led the team in receiving yards.
The coaching search didn’t go as planned. Jim Harbaugh never considered Cleveland, Mike Tomlin is taking time off, and Mike McDaniel chose a coordinator role over a second Browns interview. Rising coaches Grant Udinski and Nate Scheelhaase went elsewhere.
Monken will turn 60 next month when he officially becomes Browns head coach for the 2026 season.
Sanders was watching the coaching search closely
The former Colorado quarterback became the biggest non-playoff story in 2025. His established fanbase made him the most talked-about fifth-round pick in league history.
That same fanbase consistently criticized Browns staff, especially recently fired coach Kevin Stefanski. Many believed Stefanski held Sanders back.
Sanders supporters celebrated Stefanski’s firing. But conventional wisdom suggests new coaches prefer bringing in their own players, and a late-round pick with seven games of experience might not fit those plans.
Unless Monken specifically wants Sanders on his roster.
Reports after the 2025 draft revealed Baltimore considered selecting Sanders at pick 141, three spots earlier than Cleveland. Deion Sanders defended his son’s preference, noting Shedeur didn’t want to spend a decade backing up Lamar Jackson.
The prevailing belief suggests Monken, then Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, pushed for Sanders more than head coach John Harbaugh. If true, Monken’s hiring should benefit Shedeur’s 2026 prospects.
Not everyone believes in Sanders’ Cleveland future
FOX Sports’ Emmanuel Acho questioned why Sanders should listen to his new coach after the hiring.
“If I’m Shedeur, why am I listening to Todd Monken? What have you won on an NFL level?”
Monken did coach Jackson during his MVP seasons in Baltimore.
Sanders, currently in France with brother Shilo for Paris Fashion Week, responded via Instagram stories.
He shared the Browns’ official welcome image for Monken. Sanders added “Time for work” with fire and watch emojis, referencing his song “Perfect Timing.”
Cleveland enters the offseason with quarterbacks Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson. With the sixth overall draft pick, top prospect Fernando Mendoza is likely unavailable, and other quarterback prospects carry significant question marks.
After winning just seven games in two seasons, Cleveland won’t attract premium free agent quarterbacks.
Any new coach would likely need to work with the current quarterback room. Sanders’ biggest concern was whether Cleveland would hire someone wanting to develop him or start fresh with new quarterbacks.
Monken’s hiring appears positive for Sanders. Jackson won his second MVP award and posted career-best passing numbers under Monken’s coordination.
The jury remains out on whether Monken was the right choice overall. For Sanders heading into his sophomore season, it’s encouraging news in the short term.
