Monken, the former Ravens offensive coordinator, has returned to the league in a new role after being dismissed along with Baltimore’s longtime head coach John Harbaugh in January. He was named head coach of the Browns on January 28, marking his first NFL head-coaching position.
We are going to blitz you on third down, Monken told Jackson in a conversation that surfaced after Jackson congratulated him on the move to Cleveland. The remark underscored the strategic intent Monken plans to deploy against Jackson and Baltimore.
The Browns and Ravens have a storied rivalry, rooted in Cleveland’s origins and history with Baltimore. Historically, Baltimore has dominated the head-to-head series, holding a sizable edge in wins. Monken hopes to shift the balance as he faces off against Jackson, who has earned multiple MVP honors during his career. Jackson won the AP Most Valuable Player award outright in 2023 and later received the Pro Football Writers Association award in 2024, with the AP MVP going to another quarterback that season.
In Week 6, Baltimore travels to Cleveland for a matchup featuring two rookie head coaches—Monken leading the Browns and Jesse Minter guiding the Ravens. Baltimore has endured some tough results in recent trips to Cleveland, although the Browns will be adjusting without Myles Garrett, who was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1.
Monken explained his departure from Baltimore as a natural progression, saying it was time for a change and that everything has a shelf life. He took responsibility for the Ravens’ playoff shortcomings, acknowledging that his own coaching needs to elevate Jackson’s performance when it matters most. “I didn’t coach well enough,” he remarked, emphasizing that getting Lamar to play at his best is the ultimate goal.
Despite the competitive dynamic, Monken also spoke highly of Jackson. He described him as a tremendous person and noted that his success, and the opportunity to coach him, were major factors in his NFL career.
The Browns’ coaching transition places a familiar challenge on the horizon: turning a rivalry into a battleground where Cleveland can reverse recent trends. Monken’s blitz-heavy approach and aggressive game planning will be central to that effort as he faces Jackson and the Ravens in what should be a highly anticipated matchup this season.
