Todd Monken hasn’t wasted a single moment putting his stamp on the Cleveland Browns. Just days after being introduced as the team’s new head coach, Monken has been swift in assembling an offensive staff field with familiar faces and trusted collaborators. Among them is quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian.
Mike Bajakian Has a Challenging Task Ahead With Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson
At 51, Bajakian has coached long enough to know when a situation fits, and this one does. He and Monken previously worked together with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016 to 2018, a period that saw productive offensive seasons, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.Â
During that time, Bajakian was Tampa Bay’s quarterbacks coach, helping Jameis Winston through the early, defining years of the NFL. Winston threw for over 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. The Bucs’ offense flourished under the coach.
In Cleveland, Bajakian’s job will be demanding. He will help develop fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders, who has a score of 56.9 on PFSN’s QBi, and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, while also playing an important part in Deshaun Watson’s return to form.
Watson’s recent years have seen multiple surgeries to repair a fractured shoulder and Achilles tendon, which he ruptured twice in less than three months, making his path forward as much about trust and timing as arm strength.
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Bajakian’s background says he’s well-equipped for that challenge. His career has moved between the NFL and college football, with offensive coordinator stops at Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Boston College, Northwestern, and, most recently, Utah.
At Northwestern, he helped guide the program to multiple bowl wins, including the 2021 Citrus Bowl, while overseeing quarterbacks who posted some of their most efficient seasons.
A few months ago, Bajakian was to start at Michigan State, having signed a two-year contract to become the Spartans’ quarterbacks coach. But MSU will not receive any damages from Bajakian’s early departure, since he is taking a “primary on-field assistant position” with an NFL team.
The Browns’ offensive staff shows Monken’s preference for continuity and clarity. Offensive coordinator Travis Switzer, offensive line coach George Warhop, pass game coordinator Danny Breyer, and tight ends coach Jeff Blasko have all been hired or are in the process of joining the staff.
Daniel Stern is also being interviewed for associate head coach, a position that would oversee important game-day responsibilities such as clock management, fourth-down decisions, and various other things.
Taken together, these changes show Monken’s approach: surround the offense with experience and let the preparation handle the pressure.
