Whenever an NFL head coach takes a big risk and it pays off, it can change the trajectory of a season and maybe even his career. Naming Deshaun Watson as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback was probably the biggest risk Todd Monken could have taken in his new job, but it has worked out spectacularly through the first four weeks of the 2026 campaign.
The latest triumph was a 27-24 victory against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, when Watson led his third straight game-winning drive. Not only has Watson rewarded Moneken’s unwavering belief in him, but it has also allowed his teammates to fully believe in their coach.
With that in mind, former NFL player Chris Canty said something special is brewing with the Browns, who are no longer a laughingstock around the league.
“I’m doing great, but not as great as the Cleveland Browns fans, because they get to have the last laugh after everybody’s joking on their team earlier this season. Mike Tomlin said the Browns are gonna Browns. Todd Monken vehemently rejected that, and we now see why he’s so confident, because this team has something special going on. I can’t believe I’m saying this, the quarterback, Deshaun Watson, is a big part of it,” Canty said.
This Cleveland Browns team has something special going on, and QB Deshaun Watson is a big part of it.@ESPNCleveland https://t.co/wCTlH0GJGB pic.twitter.com/8pzsmrVTIo
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE (@UnSportsESPN) October 2, 2026
It did not look to be headed this way at all after a disheartening 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the season opener. But the Browns were able to turn things around quickly, and they may have their former rival Tomlin to thank for that.
After making his mocking comment in his role as an NBC analyst, Monken gave it right back to the former Steelers head coach when Cleveland defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-19 in Week 2. That show of defiance seems to have galvanized his team, who then went on to defeat the Carolina Panthers 21-18 in Week 3 before holding off Pittsburgh’s comeback in Week 4.
With a 3-1 record for the first time in 25 years, there may be even brighter days ahead for the Browns, who could be alone in first place in the AFC North by Monday morning. Cleveland will visit the New York Jets in Week 5, and it’s possible they could be favored for the first time this season.
You never know what is going to motivate a team to rise up, but the Browns seem to have found it very quickly under Monken, and it could set the stage for a very surprising playoff berth.
NEXT: Browns Are Winning In A Way History Has Never Seen
