The Cleveland Browns needed only one preseason game for someone to start the coaching hot seat timer.
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert watched Cleveland’s 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears on Saturday and delivered a blunt prediction about first-year head coach Todd Monken. Benkert did not bother waiting for September.
Kurt Benkert Makes Bold Todd Monken Prediction
“Monken will be fired within 2 years,” Benkert wrote on X.
That is quite a verdict after four quarters of football that do not count, but Cleveland’s performance gave critics plenty to work with. The Browns jumped ahead 10-0 before Chicago scored the final 34 points.
Monken will be fired within 2 years
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) August 15, 2026
Case Keenum completed 9 of 10 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears, while Tyson Bagent added 169 passing yards. Cleveland’s defense generated an interception and some pressure, but it could not stop Chicago from taking control once the opening surge disappeared.
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The quarterback competition also remained messy. Deshaun Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards while leading Cleveland’s only two scoring drives. He also lost a fumble on a strip sack.
Shedeur Sanders followed with 79 yards and an interception on 6 of 11 passing. The Browns will flip the order against Buffalo next week, with Sanders scheduled to start and Watson entering later.
Monken remained positive afterward. He said he was pleased with the quarterback play overall and praised Watson for returning to game action after missing the entire 2025 season.
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Browns Hired Monken to Fix an Offense That Needed It
Cleveland hired Monken in January after firing Kevin Stefanski following a 5-12 season. This is Monken’s first NFL head coaching job, although his offensive résumé is a major reason the Browns handed him the keys.
Monken spent the previous three seasons running Baltimore’s offense. During that stretch, the Ravens ranked third in the NFL at 27.9 points per game, and Lamar Jackson won his second MVP award in Monken’s first season as offensive coordinator.
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Cleveland needed that kind of repair work. The Browns finished last in PFN’s 2025 Offense Impact Rankings with a 54.0 impact score. Their ongoing quarterback battle has only added another layer to the rebuilding job.
One preseason loss is hardly enough evidence to determine whether Monken will survive two seasons. Coaches spend August evaluating players, experimenting with combinations, and trying not to reveal too much before the games start counting.
Still, Benkert’s prediction reflects how little patience surrounds this Browns season. Cleveland is coming off another losing year, has uncertainty at quarterback, and just watched its first game under Monken turn from a 10-point lead into a 24-point defeat.
The regular season will provide the evidence that actually matters, but Benkert has apparently seen enough of the trailer to review the entire movie.
