Todd Monken takes over as head coach aiming to improve from last season’s 5-12 record.
The Cleveland Browns are entering a new era. After six seasons under Kevin Stefanski, the franchise turned to Todd Monken, a first-time NFL head coach tasked with resurrecting an organization that finished 5-12 last season. The full 2026 schedule releases tonight at 8 p.m. ET, and Monken will immediately face the challenge of transforming a last-place team into a competitive force within the demanding AFC North.
A familiar divisional gauntlet
The Browns’ schedule reflects the NFL’s divisional structure, requiring them to face each of their three AFC North rivals twice. The Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals will each visit Cleveland and vice versa, creating the kind of brutal divisional slate that characterizes one of professional football’s most storied rivalries. These six contests alone will largely determine whether Monken’s inaugural season succeeds or falters.
Beyond the division, the Browns draw the AFC South and NFC South divisions, creating a schedule built around established opponents. The team will host the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers at home, while traveling to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.
Unique scheduling consideration
One notable distinction sets the Browns apart from their counterparts: Cleveland is the only AFC North team that will not play an international game during 2026. While other division members travel abroad for the NFL’s expanding global slate, the Browns remain stateside. This scheduling decision either represents a missed opportunity for international exposure or a practical advantage eliminating travel fatigue, depending on perspective.
Completing the slate
The schedule concludes with three games against 2025 last-place teams. The Browns host the Las Vegas Raiders while traveling to face the New York Giants and New York Jets. These matchups against struggling franchises theoretically present winnable opportunities, though NFL parity means no game is guaranteed regardless of opponent strength.
Monken’s challenge and opportunity
Monken arrives in Cleveland following three seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator, immediately placing him in the difficult position of competing against his former employer. His familiarity with the AFC North offers both advantage and disadvantage, understanding what Ravens head coach John Harbaugh brings to the table while potentially lacking the complete defensive context necessary for navigating the Steelers and Bengals.
The 5-12 record left by Stefanski establishes a clear baseline for improvement. Even modest progress toward 8-9 wins would signal meaningful progress under new leadership. Monken’s offensive expertise suggests an emphasis on improvement through scheme and play-calling, areas where the previous regime struggled to maintain consistency despite occasional flashes of competence.
A storied history awaits
Stefanski held the distinction of being the longest-tenured coach of Cleveland’s post-1999 era, a remarkable statement about the franchise’s historical instability. His ability to take the Browns to the playoffs twice represented the organization’s most sustained success in decades. However, last season’s collapse made change inevitable.
Monken now inherits a franchise desperate for stability and success. Tonight’s schedule release provides the roadmap, but execution ultimately determines whether the Browns can escape their perpetual cycle of futility and develop into a genuine contender.
Source: The Athletic