Todd Monken has some fences to mend with Cleveland Browns fans after naming Deshaun Watson the starting quarterback. It is a divisive choice for reasons both on and off the field, and Watson did him no favors by taking on the faithful after getting booed during the preseason.
But Monken certainly does not lack confidence, and he believes that his team will make the fans proud if they just give it a chance. That potentially difficult process will begin on Sunday in the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Heading toward his debut as an NFL head coach, Monken is sending a message to Browns fans ahead of Week 1, promising that they will play hard for each other.
“Ultimately, we are judged by what we put out there on the field, what winning football looks like. Starting with how our guys play and how we get lined up, and our operation is a big part of that. Our guys are gonna play hard. I expect our players to play fast and physical and operate at a high level and play connected for each other. It’s to put a product out there that our fans are proud of and continue to develop our young players,” Monken said.
"We are judged by what we put out there on the field, what winning football looks like. I expect our players to play fast and physical and operate at a high level and play connected for each other."
➡️ #Browns head coach Todd Monken with @KenCarman and @SportsBoyTony on his… pic.twitter.com/f9iCVlySPo
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) September 8, 2026
Based on the way that Monken has talked during the preseason, he might be satisfied if the Browns simply line up properly and avoid pre-snap mistakes. He has consistently mentioned that the ability to manage the offense is one of the main reasons he chose Watson over Shedeur Sanders for the starting job.
That alone will not nearly be enough to appease the fans, who are already expecting the worst from Watson, based on what they have seen from him during his time with the Browns. Monken does not have those same scars, and neither do most of Watson’s new offensive teammates, with an entirely rebuilt offensive line and skill positions made up almost entirely of rookies and second-year players.
Cleveland does have a daunting task ahead, opening the season on the road against a team that won 13 games last season. Then, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are waiting in Week 2.
If the Browns show some fight and potential in those games, they will receive a warm welcome when they return to Huntington Bank Field for the home opener against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. If not, it could be an ugly scene, especially if Watson remains the starting quarterback.
So, Monken may have his work cut out for him to really make the fans proud in a relatively short amount of time.
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