Home / Sports / AFC North Coaching Shake-Up: Browns Strike Boldly
AFC North Coaching Shake-Up: Browns Strike Boldly
30 Jan
Summary
- Todd Monken's proven QB development skills cited as key advantage.
- Zac Taylor's future with Bengals uncertain due to Joe Burrow's health.
- Jesse Minter faces steep learning curve with Ravens' defense.

The AFC North is experiencing a dramatic coaching transformation, with Cleveland making the most impactful move by hiring Todd Monken. Monken is recognized as the division's most accomplished "QB whisperer," credited with developing elite talent at both the collegiate and professional levels.
His success includes back-to-back national titles at Georgia and significantly improving Lamar Jackson's passing game, leading to two MVP awards. By securing Monken, the architect of Baltimore's top-ranked 2024 offense, the Browns gain a strategic advantage over their rivals and a potential pathway to unlocking quarterback talent.
In Cincinnati, Zac Taylor's tenure with the Bengals is under scrutiny. Despite a Super Bowl appearance, a 6-11 finish in 2025 puts his position at risk, especially with Joe Burrow's recurring injury issues.
Pittsburgh welcomes Mike McCarthy, a Super Bowl-winning coach, but his "retread" status and inability to advance past the divisional round with the Cowboys raise concerns for a franchise demanding more.
Baltimore appoints Jesse Minter, a promising defensive mind from the Jim Harbaugh coaching tree. However, as a first-time NFL head coach, Minter faces a considerable challenge in maintaining the Ravens' high standards, unlike Monken, who brings extensive experience and prior head coaching roles.
Ultimately, in this transitional division, Monken's blend of championship pedigree and intimate knowledge of the AFC North landscape positions him as the most formidable coach.



