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Can Monken Break Cleveland's First-Game Curse?
6 Sep
Summary
- Todd Monken hired as Browns' 19th head coach.
- Most Browns coaches lost their debut game since 1989.
- Monken's debut is Sept. 13, 2026, vs. Jaguars.
The Cleveland Browns have appointed Todd Monken as their 19th head coach. Monken, 60, brings extensive offensive experience from his recent role with the Baltimore Ravens, though his head coaching history is limited to a previous stint at Southern Mississippi.
His first official game as head coach will be on September 13, 2026, when the Browns face the Jacksonville Jaguars. This debut carries significant historical weight.
Since 1989, an 11-game streak of opening-game losses for full-time head coaches has plagued the Browns. The last coach to win his debut was Bud Carson in 1989. This article reviews the first-game performances of Cleveland's previous 18 full-time head coaches, noting early successes by Paul Brown and Blanton Collier, contrasted with numerous defeats for coaches like Bill Belichick and Kevin Stefanski.
Notably, only a few coaches, including Paul Brown, Blanton Collier, and Nick Skorich, secured victories in their initial games. Most recent coaches have experienced immediate losses, highlighting a persistent challenge for the franchise.
