Head Coach Todd Monken (9.7.26)
Todd, did you name captains?
“I did. Not for the season, we’re going to have weekly captains, so it’ll vary week to week, and then at the end of the year the players will vote on the permanent 2026 captains.”
At the end of the season?
“At the end of the season. Each week will be different. Each will week we’ll have two offense, two defense and a special teams captain each week.”
Why?
“I just like it that way. I think we have a fairly young team. I’m not ready to name guys that are permanent for us. I do think it’s cool for players to go out for the coin toss. I think it’s really cool. I think most teams have more leaders than just four or five guys. I just believe that. I believe that with each game you reward guys for the week that they’ve had, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
So, who are the guys for Jacksonville, then?
“Jacksonville, we’re going to have Rex (Sunahara) as our special teams, Deshaun (Watson), Zion (Johnson) on offense, Tyson (Campbell) and Mason (Graham). Those will be our five captains for this week.”
So, do you choose them, Todd?
“The coaches choose. The coaches will pick them week to week, and then at the end of the year the players will vote on the permanent captains for the 2026 season.”
When you named Deshaun as starting quarterback, you kept emphasizing ‘for Jacksonville’ and the fact you’re on the road and it’s a challenge for any quarterback. Does the fact that he’s 7-0 against Jacksonville as a starter come into mind at all?
“It didn’t. And then when I heard it afterward, I felt a little bit better about it, but it didn’t at the moment that I chose him, no.”
Does it feel any different for you, Todd, now that Week 1 is actually here?
“Not really. I mean, maybe it will as it gets later in the week, but it’s still a week of preparation and whether you’re in college or the NFL, your preparation is still the same. Sure, there’s parts where I’m doing two jobs, but outside of that, it’s really just what do we have to get done today.”
Do you have a specific message for the rookies about Week 1, whether it’s preparation or even what to expect on a road environment in the NFL?
“Not really. Most of the guys you get anymore, I mean, they came from pretty big-time environments. KC (Concepcion Jr.) came from (Texas) A&M. It doesn’t get bigger than the SEC. And Denzel (Boston), and then if you’re playing at Utah, you’ve got big-time venues, or if you’re playing at Washington. So, most of those guys are used to it. It’s really not much different.”
When you were at Jacksonville, I don’t remember records of your teams there, but did you guys as a staff feel like you had a home-field advantage because of the weather?
“Early in the year you would think that. You would think early in the year whatever you’re used to, I think it’s inverted up here, because later in the year, you’re going to feel like you have an advantage because of the cold and what you’re used to. But ultimately, the team that plays the best and executes the best is going to win on Sunday, irrespective of the weather.”
Where have you seen Spencer (Fano)’s growth the most? Specifically, over the last two or three weeks?
“Well, he’s been banged up a little bit, so there’s been a little bit of that. But I just think that getting more and more comfortable with the system, what we’re asking him to do, is probably the biggest thing. He obviously came a long way from the spring to the start of camp, but probably the last few weeks it’s just been the mental side of it.”
Knowing how long you’ve waited to become a head coach, is there any nerves going into Sunday, or is it just excitement?
“Not really. I mean…how would I say this? Anxiety’s too far over the top. Nerves, I think, are a good thing, because you’re doing something important, right? Something that’s freaking awesome. So, you’re going to feel that a little bit, and that’s a good thing. To me, it really is. It’s a cool thing.”
Jacksonville had an amazing year last year. They hired their coach very late, made two trades with the Browns that probably was in the Browns favor and they went 13-4. How do you account for their success over the last year?
“First of all, their staff did a great job, and their personnel putting their team together and maximizing all their players’ measurable skill sets. They did a great job. They got the quarterback to play at a really high level. Liam (Coen)’s always been able to do that. And what they did is they pieced together. They took care of the O-line initially, they signed Patrick Mekari from us at the Ravens, that kind of solidified things. Again, I think they did a good job as a staff, and there’s a lot to be said for momentum. I think there’s a lot to be said once you start playing good football, because you could probably ask them even early in the year. They were still getting their feet wet. But then they just started playing with more and more confidence, and you could just see it. You could see it on tape.”
I heard a coach say the other day on Sirius (XM) say that preparing for the first NFL game is always the hardest because you just have no idea what to expect from the opponent. Have you found that that’s part of the issue here is that you just really don’t know what they’re going to do on either side of the ball?
“Well, what you’re not going to know is whatever their coordinators and staff looked at in the offseason and said, ‘We need to improve here. Here’s the Jacksonville Jaguars 2.0.’ But like what Tony (Grossi) said is they had great success last year, so they didn’t have that by changing everything they do. So, I anticipate we’ll see a pretty substantial amount of what they did last year, within reason. Their systems offensively, defense and special teams, and then they’re going to have some changeups and some things. They did their studies in the offseason just like we did. They have it a little bit harder because Rudy (Mike Rutenberg) has not called a game before. He comes from a number of systems. They have a little bit of us in terms of background at Baltimore, but that was with Lamar (Jackson), a different cat. Again, at the end of the day, we’re going to do what we do well, and they’re going to do what they do well.”
Do you still have a competition at right guard this week?
“We’ll have to see. I really hadn’t thought about it, but I would think it’s close enough to where, but we’ll see where Teven (Jenkins) is when we get out there today.”
You’ve coached in plenty of games, but first time as a head coach. Will it feel different for you at all on Sunday knowing you’re in a different role that you’ve ever been in before?
“I don’t really see it that way. We did have the preseason games, I know they don’t, really by record, count, but not really, because ultimately this isn’t my first rodeo as a head coach, or being a coordinator, or being on the sideline, so I don’t see it that way. Obviously, it’s going to feel different when you have the national anthem and you’re standing and staring across at the other side and all the work you put in. It’s like when I first got to Jacksonville. It was only a preseason game, but I stood across the field and there was Zach Thomas and Ricky Williams and Jason Taylor, and you’re like, ‘Okay, holy cow, I’m in the NFL.’ This is everything that you grew up hoping you could be a part of. So, there’s a part of that. But I’ve been part of the NFL for a number of years now, so I’m just excited to watch our guys play.”
What do you think of Travis Hunter? Do you expect to see him inside at all?
“I don’t know if we’ll see him at nickel. I think playing outside is a lot. Play outside and nickel for a young player. I’m not anticipating that. I’m not saying he can’t, and we may see that, but I’m anticipating him playing outside.”
How about on offense?
“I don’t know that. I don’t know. Will they have certain plays? Maybe possibly for him, yes, but I think they like their receiving corps. I think they’ve done a nice job between (Parker) Washington, (Jakobi) Meyers and (Brian) Thomas and their tight ends. They’ve got a good number of weapons even without him.”
Is there a world in which Taylen Green could possibly be up for this game in Jacksonville, either as a special-package guy or perhaps even if you’re going to use him, maybe even as the backup?
“Could be. There could be a package where we have him.”
So, then you will activate three quarterbacks?
“That’s the word ‘possibly.’ It’s possible that we could use him in that.”
Is three too many for Sunday?
“I don’t think…well, if we could afford it, it’d be nice to have five or six quarterbacks up, but three is a lot.”
Has Maliek (Collins) been progressing like you need to see him? Do you think he’s going to be ready for Sunday?
“Oh yeah. Talking about Maliek Collins?”
Yeah.
“Oh yeah. No, he’s ready to go.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***