The Cleveland Browns’ coaching search is complete.

The Browns decided to opt for former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and the choice was expectedly tumultuous.

Monken, who turns 60 in February, will replace coach Kevin Stefanski, who coached the team for six seasons and made the playoffs twice. For some, anyone was better than Stefanski. Others, including myself, saw the Browns’ problems as more of a reflection of the front office and the scouting department.

But once Stefanski was fired, the goal was simple: find a better option to wear the headset.

After weeks of interviews and flights to meet with coaches, somehow the Browns settled on Monken. “Somehow” and “settled” are used specifically.

Monken had success during his three years in Baltimore, helping lead quarterback Lamar Jackson to an MVP season in 2023. But it wasn’t all Monken’s tutelage, because Jackson already had an MVP under his belt from 2019.

Speaking of 2019, it should serve as a reminder that Monken had already been along the Lake Erie shore once before. He was the Browns’ offensive coordinator that season, overseeing an offense that saw Cleveland fail to properly integrate Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. into the fold, while second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield took a step back after a record-setting rookie campaign.

But the candidate pool slowly started to become shallow. Former Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh, former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and younger choices like Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter opted to not meet with the Browns, or even entertain the idea of a meeting.

That left Monken and Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz as the last two options.

As if the hiring of Monken didn’t leave enough fans with a bland taste in their mouths, news broke shortly after that Schwartz wanted out.

Schwartz got two interviews for the vacant head coaching position, and he was worth a look after guiding the Browns’ defense to two top-five finishes in yards allowed per game over the last three seasons. However, he wanted to be the head coach, and when the news was released regarding Monken, reports also emerged that Schwartz wanted to go to another team.

So in total, the Browns got a 60-year-old, first-time head coach, but they now need to rebuild the offensive staff and potentially the defensive staff as well. And with only two of the 10 vacant head coaching positions still open in the league, that means the other seven teams already got a jumpstart on filling out their assistant coaching roster.

However, this is expected with Jimmy Haslam owning the team. It’s been one circus after another for more than a decade now.

My biggest fear is that the lack of offensive talent dooms the 2026 Browns, leading to general manager Andrew Berry’s firing.

If that happens, the Browns would have to reconstruct the front office for a new GM, who has no loyalties to Monken. Kicking off a 2027 offseason with a general manager search and a potential round of new head coaching candidates.