Todd Monken Sticks by Deshaun Watson Despite Fan Backlash

The Cleveland Browns have chosen Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season, despite disapproval from fans. Watson has been a contentious figure in Cleveland due to previous criticism of fans, leading to a challenging path to regain their support. However, head coach Todd Monken remains unfazed by the fan reaction.

In a Tuesday press conference, Monken addressed the dissatisfaction by stating he is not troubled by the unpopular decision. His priority is making choices that benefit the team throughout the season. “Would I prefer that we would all be on the same page? Yeah, but that has nothing to do with my decision, and it can never have anything to do with my decision,” Monken emphasized. “My decision has got to be about what’s best for the Browns in Week 1 and all the way through the season, and as long as I’m the head coach here.”

The decision to start Watson is driven by his potential to generate powerful offensive plays. Monken stressed the importance of explosive plays for scoring success. “You’re not going to be elite on offense and score points if you can’t create explosives,” he explained. “It’s so hard to drive the football the length of the field without an explosive.” The emphasis on such plays is shared by coordinators across the league as they strive to avoid turnovers and maximize scoring opportunities.

Monken elaborated on the strategic challenge between offense and defense. “The defense is trying to turn you over and not allow explosives. That’s the big chess match,” he said. Having players with explosive capabilities combined with strategic planning and execution, such as effective protection, is key.

Monken expressed confidence in Watson’s ability to drive offensive plays downfield. “I’m confident in Deshaun and our ability to push the ball down the field, otherwise we wouldn’t be starting him,” he affirmed.

While Watson’s presence on the field seems unaffected by the fan reaction for now, his future as Cleveland’s top quarterback will rely on producing and capitalizing on explosive plays.