New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken is reported to be weighing Travis Switzer, a long-time Baltimore Ravens assistant, as his top choice for offensive coordinator. The report, attributed to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and picked up by NBC Sports on [report date], says Switzer spent nine seasons with Baltimore, including the last three as the Ravens’ run-game coordinator working alongside Monken. Under the Monken–Switzer run-game partnership, Derrick Henry compiled 1,921 rushing yards in 2024 and 1,595 yards in 2025. Monken has not yet confirmed whether he will retain play-calling duties if Switzer joins the Browns staff.
Key Takeaways
- Travis Switzer is viewed as the frontrunner to become the Browns’ offensive coordinator, according to reporting tied to ESPN and carried by NBC Sports.
- Switzer served nine seasons on the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff, with the last three as run-game coordinator alongside Todd Monken.
- During the Monken–Switzer collaboration, Derrick Henry rushed for 1,921 yards in 2024 and 1,595 yards in 2025, indicating a strong run-game output under their system.
- Todd Monken is the Browns’ newly hired head coach and has not publicly stated whether he will continue to handle play-calling duties.
- If hired, Switzer would add continuity from Baltimore to Cleveland’s offensive staff and likely emphasize power-run concepts the duo deployed with Henry.
- No official announcement from the Browns or Ravens confirming Switzer’s hiring had been released at the time of reporting.
Background
The Browns hired Todd Monken to lead a retooled coaching staff after seeking a new offensive identity following the previous season. Monken’s recent NFL work included coordinating offenses that leaned on physical running games and play-action passing, a blend that figures to appeal to Cleveland’s roster construction. Travis Switzer’s work in Baltimore placed him in multiple positional roles over nine seasons, giving him hands-on experience with receivers, tight ends and the club’s running schemes. The Monken–Switzer pairing in Baltimore focused heavily on establishing a downhill running attack, which coincided with Derrick Henry’s career resurgence during those seasons.
Cleveland’s front office has shown interest in building around a more consistent rushing foundation while finding a reliable caller and coordinator dynamic. The Browns’ roster features running talent and an offensive line group the new staff will evaluate for fit in proposed schemes. Historically, NFL teams hiring a coordinator from within a head coach’s previous staff seek scheme continuity and familiarity in communication and game planning. That logic appears to inform the interest in Switzer, who already has worked directly under Monken in NFL game planning and weekly preparation.
Main Event
Reporters first linked Switzer to the Browns coaching vacancy after Monken’s hiring raised the prospect of staff moves from Baltimore to Cleveland. Sources familiar with the search told reporters that Switzer was being discussed as the leading internal candidate based on his run-game responsibilities and prior collaboration with Monken. The reporting notes Switzer’s nine-year Ravens tenure and highlights his progression through various assistant roles, culminating in run-game coordinator duties over the past three seasons.
In Baltimore, Switzer’s responsibilities included coordinating rushing concepts, contributing to run-pass balance, and coaching skill-position groups at times. The tactical partnership with Monken produced notable rushing totals for Derrick Henry in consecutive seasons, reinforcing the pair’s credentials in constructing effective ground attacks. Cleveland’s decision-makers are reportedly weighing whether to hire a coordinator who mirrors Monken’s approach or to split responsibilities differently, especially on play calling.
As of this report, no formal offer or contract details had been disclosed publicly by the Browns, and neither the team nor Switzer issued an official statement confirming a hire. Monken’s public comments on staff selection have been limited to general expectations about assembling a compatible coaching team, without naming specific candidates. League observers expect the Browns to finalize key staff roles ahead of the upcoming offseason program and to clarify the play-calling hierarchy before training camp.
Analysis & Implications
Hiring Switzer would signal Cleveland’s intent to prioritize a physical running game and maintain tactical continuity with Monken’s preferred offensive principles. The Monken–Switzer tandem produced high-volume rushing seasons for Derrick Henry, suggesting the duo can design workload distributions and blocking schemes that maximize a power back’s output. For the Browns, that could mean an offensive identity shift toward fewer short-yardage passing plays and more emphasis on gap schemes, zone/power mix, and play-action setups that flow from a strong run game.
The choice of coordinator also affects personnel decisions. If the Browns adopt a heavier run-first approach, the front office may prioritize offensive-line upgrades, interior blockers, and backs who fit downhill running schemes. Conversely, a coordinator with a different schematic emphasis could push for increased receiving weaponry or route-tree diversification. Switzer’s background coaching receivers and tight ends would allow for hybrid game plans that keep opponents uncertain, but the running game would likely remain a central pillar.
Play-calling responsibilities remain a pivotal consideration. If Monken elects to retain play-calling, Switzer’s role would be focused more on game planning, run-game scheming, and weekly implementation. If Monken delegates play-calling to Switzer, the Browns would be entrusting in-game strategic adjustments to a coach steeped in Monken’s system but less experienced as a primary play-caller at the NFL coordinator level. Each arrangement carries trade-offs in accountability, tempo control, and matchup adjustments.
Comparison & Data
| Season | Rushing Yards (Derrick Henry) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,921 | Monken & Switzer collaboration in Baltimore |
| 2025 | 1,595 | Follow-up season under same staff structure |
The table shows back-to-back high-output rushing seasons for Derrick Henry during the period when Monken and Switzer worked together. Those figures are concrete indicators of the run-game concepts’ effectiveness with a downhill runner in the roster. Translating that production to Cleveland would depend on personnel fit, offensive line performance, and adjustments to opposing defenses that may prepare differently for the Browns than they did for the Ravens.
Reactions & Quotes
“Switzer is the frontrunner to become Cleveland’s offensive coordinator,”
Jeremy Fowler / ESPN (reported)
This formulation of the news reflects reporting attributed to ESPN and relayed by NBC Sports. Journalists framed the development as a league-source-based update rather than a team-confirmed transaction.
“Monken has not announced whether he will call the offensive plays for Cleveland,”
NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk (report)
That observation underscores a key open question about how responsibilities would be allocated if Switzer were hired. Play-calling authority will shape both the coordinator’s scope and in-game decision-making protocols.
Unconfirmed
- No official hiring announcement by the Cleveland Browns confirming Travis Switzer as offensive coordinator had been released at the time of reporting.
- It remains unconfirmed whether Todd Monken will retain play-calling duties or delegate them to a coordinator if Switzer is hired.
- Any internal contract terms, compensation, or staff structure changes tied to a potential Switzer hire have not been publicly disclosed.
Bottom Line
Reports naming Travis Switzer as the frontrunner for the Browns’ offensive coordinator role reflect a common pattern: head coaches bringing trusted assistants from prior stops to establish scheme continuity. Switzer’s nine-year Ravens background and three-year run-game partnership with Todd Monken offer a clear rationale for Cleveland’s reported interest, especially given the high rushing outputs produced in that pairing.
Before conclusions can be drawn about how the Browns will look schematically, two items must be resolved: whether Switzer is formally hired, and who will hold play-calling authority. Those decisions will determine roster priorities and the tactical direction of Cleveland’s offense heading into the next season.
Sources
- NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk — media report summarizing league sources and linking to ESPN reporting
- ESPN (Jeremy Fowler report) — media report cited for initial sourcing and league-sourced details
- Baltimore Ravens — coaches (official) — team coaching bios and staff roles
- Cleveland Browns — coaches (official) — team coaching roster and official announcements