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There's a lot of new with the Cleveland Browns in 2026.
A new head coach in Todd Monken, who brings a new offensive system. A new rookie class, with a handful of players who are expected to make an immediate impact. Other new faces scattered across the roster.
Alongside Monken, who is a first-time head coach himself, are a handful of new assistants, who are also holding their respective titles for the first time.
At 60, Monken has had plenty of time to contemplate how he wants to manage his team, run his practices, and build his game plans. Having worked under ex-Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens here in Cleveland' he's also seen firsthand what bad coaching looks like.
That doesn't mean he's not open to suggestions. Despite the fact he and his top assistants are going through all of this for the first time, collaboration is key.
"We have an awesome collaboration as a staff," said Browns defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg. "It's really cool to be a part of and the ideas that are exchanged and it's awesome. We're practicing football, getting ready to play football and that's what it's all about."
Rutenberg has spent more than 20 years in various coaching and personnel roles across the NFL and the college ranks. Most prominently, though, he bounced around with newly anointed Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh.
That duo first crossed paths with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2014-2016 before Saleh left to be the San Francisco 49ers DC in 2017. Three years later, Rutenberg joined him in the Bay Area as a pass game specialist in 2020.
When Saleh took the Jets head coaching job that next offseason, Rutenberg followed him to the Big Apple, to serve as his linebackers coach. When their time there ended, Saleh wound up back with the 49ers in 2025, while Rutenberg landed in Atlanta as the Falcons defensive pass game coordinator.
Rutenberg is a product of all those experiences. Those experiences have helped him formulate his own perspective on how to do things here in Cleveland. Monken sees the value in that.
The collaborative approach doesn't stop at Rutenberg, of course. Offensive coordinator Travis Switzer is the most familiar with Monken, having spent the last three seasons on his offensive staff in Baltimore. He actually predated Monken's arrival to the Ravens, though, which speaks to Monken's willingness to accept outside input.
Special teams coordinator Byron Storer appreciates the approach from Monken too.
"He’s included me in every step of the process in terms of meeting times, practice times, and he (says) ‘Byron, what do you need?’ And I say, ‘This is what I’ve done, this is what I’d like.’ And he either gives me what I want or we’ll compromise.
Storer's journey mimicked that of well-known special teams coach Rich Bisaccia, first joining his staff as an assistant special teams coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010, a year removed from his NFL playing career ending.
He then followed him to the San Diego Chargers, the Oakland and eventually Las Vegas Raiders and most recently the Green Bay Packers, before coming to Cleveland this offseason to be the outright special teams coordinator for the first time.
Storer's looking to turn around one of the worst special teams units in the NFL from a season ago. Monken is making sure the game's third phase is a priority at practice.
"Whatever Coach Monken wants is what he’ll get," Storer added. "But I really appreciate the fact that he’s been really accommodating to me, and he’s really put a priority on special teams, in my opinion."
Collaboration and accountability. These themes appear to be the backbone of Monken's new culture in Cleveland. Now it has to equate to win.
Browns Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Browns. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
Continue reading...
A new head coach in Todd Monken, who brings a new offensive system. A new rookie class, with a handful of players who are expected to make an immediate impact. Other new faces scattered across the roster.
Alongside Monken, who is a first-time head coach himself, are a handful of new assistants, who are also holding their respective titles for the first time.
At 60, Monken has had plenty of time to contemplate how he wants to manage his team, run his practices, and build his game plans. Having worked under ex-Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens here in Cleveland' he's also seen firsthand what bad coaching looks like.
That doesn't mean he's not open to suggestions. Despite the fact he and his top assistants are going through all of this for the first time, collaboration is key.
"We have an awesome collaboration as a staff," said Browns defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg. "It's really cool to be a part of and the ideas that are exchanged and it's awesome. We're practicing football, getting ready to play football and that's what it's all about."
Rutenberg has spent more than 20 years in various coaching and personnel roles across the NFL and the college ranks. Most prominently, though, he bounced around with newly anointed Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh.
That duo first crossed paths with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2014-2016 before Saleh left to be the San Francisco 49ers DC in 2017. Three years later, Rutenberg joined him in the Bay Area as a pass game specialist in 2020.
When Saleh took the Jets head coaching job that next offseason, Rutenberg followed him to the Big Apple, to serve as his linebackers coach. When their time there ended, Saleh wound up back with the 49ers in 2025, while Rutenberg landed in Atlanta as the Falcons defensive pass game coordinator.
Rutenberg is a product of all those experiences. Those experiences have helped him formulate his own perspective on how to do things here in Cleveland. Monken sees the value in that.
The collaborative approach doesn't stop at Rutenberg, of course. Offensive coordinator Travis Switzer is the most familiar with Monken, having spent the last three seasons on his offensive staff in Baltimore. He actually predated Monken's arrival to the Ravens, though, which speaks to Monken's willingness to accept outside input.
Special teams coordinator Byron Storer appreciates the approach from Monken too.
"He’s included me in every step of the process in terms of meeting times, practice times, and he (says) ‘Byron, what do you need?’ And I say, ‘This is what I’ve done, this is what I’d like.’ And he either gives me what I want or we’ll compromise.
Storer's journey mimicked that of well-known special teams coach Rich Bisaccia, first joining his staff as an assistant special teams coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010, a year removed from his NFL playing career ending.
He then followed him to the San Diego Chargers, the Oakland and eventually Las Vegas Raiders and most recently the Green Bay Packers, before coming to Cleveland this offseason to be the outright special teams coordinator for the first time.
Storer's looking to turn around one of the worst special teams units in the NFL from a season ago. Monken is making sure the game's third phase is a priority at practice.
"Whatever Coach Monken wants is what he’ll get," Storer added. "But I really appreciate the fact that he’s been really accommodating to me, and he’s really put a priority on special teams, in my opinion."
Collaboration and accountability. These themes appear to be the backbone of Monken's new culture in Cleveland. Now it has to equate to win.
Browns Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Browns. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
Continue reading...
