Todd Monken, the newly appointed head coach of the Cleveland Browns, expressed strong interest in working with quarterback Deshaun Watson as he takes charge of the team this season. Speaking about his excitement for the current roster, Monken highlighted Watson alongside rookie Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, emphasizing his desire to foster competition at the quarterback position to strengthen the offense.
“I’m excited to get started with the guys that we have in the room now, and then looking to add to that possibly,”
Monken said, via Mary Kay Cabot.
“You’ve got to have a quarterback to give yourself a chance to win in this league. We know that. You also have to have good players around them to really get it going. So I’m excited about Shedeur, Deshaun, Dillon and who else we might add to that in terms of competition to really have this offense take off.”
Monken was clear about the expectations placed upon him, stating that his goal is to develop an elite offense capable of consistent championship contention.
“There’s a reason why I was hired here,”
he said.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. I was hired to become elite on offense and that’s what we’re going to fight every day to be, and I’m fired up because I think we have a chance to really take off. I really do. I think the time is right now to take off and really build it the way you want, so you’re consistently competing for championships.”
Ravens Prepare for Season Under New Head Coach Jesse Minter
The Baltimore Ravens are entering a new chapter with Jesse Minter as their head coach, following his two-year tenure as the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator. The move has drawn praise from players familiar with Minter’s leadership and intellect, underscoring the Ravens’ strategy to maintain continuity while aiming for future success.
Los Angeles cornerback Cam Hart described Minter as
“one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever played for,”
highlighting both his football acumen and his relationship-building skills.
“I honestly believe he is one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever played for. A football maniac. A relationships dude. … They’re getting a great coach,”
Hart said, via Jordan Schultz.
Minter has also brought Anthony Weaver on board as his defensive coordinator. Weaver is recognized throughout the league for his expertise and ability to elevate players through his knowledge and teaching.
“A highly-regarded defensive mind, Anthony Weaver has a proven track record of success and is the definition of what it means to be a Raven,”
Jamison Hensley stated.
On Weaver’s coaching qualities, Hensley added,
“He elevates players with his football IQ, tactical knowledge and natural teaching ability — all attributes that make him one of the game’s most respected coaches.”
The Athletic ranked Minter highly among recent head coaching hires, with an executive remarking,
“Jesse Minter is probably the cleanest fit out of all of them, the closeness to the scheme. It feels like they went for a younger version of the coach they had, a mix of John Harbaugh and (former Ravens defensive coordinator and current Super Bowl champion) Mike Macdonald. Jesse is a stud. They were able to rewind it in a very seamless way. They’re minimizing the transition. That’s a really important thing to do when you’re making a hire. That’s an easy one.”
Another coach commented,
“The best thing about this hire is the continuity of the organization. It’s one of the best, if not the best, overall organizations. Just need to keep defense strong, kicking game elite and figure out getting over the hump with offense.”
Additional coaching moves include the expected hiring of Keary Colbert as wide receivers coach and Ben Kotwica joining as a senior assistant on special teams, having most recently served as the interim special teams coach for the Rams in 2025.
Terry Bradshaw Reveals Aaron Rodgers’ Commitment to Steelers Return
Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw shared on 103.5 The Buzz that Aaron Rodgers has committed to returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2025 season. Bradshaw said this pledge was made to former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, reflecting both Rodgers’ dedication and continuity within the team.
“I have heard, right when the [Mike] McCarthy thing was announced, or before it was announced, I’d already heard that Aaron Rodgers had told Mike, ‘If you want me to come back for a year, I’ll come back and join you,’”
Bradshaw revealed.
“I think now, you know what, let’s bring Aaron back. I mean, he knows the offense. They’ll bring in some players. So now I’m going, ‘Okay,’ because I love Mike McCarthy.”
Implications of Aaron Rodgers’ Return for the Steelers’ 2025 Season
Aaron Rodgers’ decision to return to Pittsburgh carries significant weight for the Steelers as they prepare for 2025. His familiarity with the team’s system and leadership experience could stabilize the quarterback position, creating opportunities for offensive growth under Mike McCarthy’s guidance. This move instills hope among fans and analysts as the Steelers aim to enhance their competitiveness.
Meanwhile, with Cleveland’s offense aiming to rise under Monken and Baltimore’s defense recalibrating leadership under Minter and Weaver, several NFL teams are actively positioning themselves for success in the upcoming season. Rodgers’ commitment to the Steelers adds an important dynamic to this shifting NFL landscape.
#Chargers CB Cam Hart on what the #Ravens are getting with new HC Jesse Minter:
“I honestly believe he is one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever played for. A football maniac. A relationships dude. … They’re getting a great coach.” 😈 pic.twitter.com/B9VeXk0sVt
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 9, 2026
Ravens officially announce they've hired Anthony Weaver as their defensive coordinator.
Jesse Minter: “A highly-regarded defensive mind, Anthony Weaver has a proven track record of success and is the definition of what it means to be a Raven."
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 10, 2026
More Jesse Minter on Anthony Weaver: "He elevates players with his football IQ, tactical knowledge and natural teaching ability — all attributes that make him one of the game’s most respected coaches.”
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) February 10, 2026
The #Ravens are expected to hire Keary Colbert as wide receivers coach, sources tell @CBSSports.
The former NFL wide receiver was the Broncos’ wide receivers coach the last three seasons. Before that, he was a wide receivers coach at the college level at Florida and USC. pic.twitter.com/x8kRwgOUpu
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 11, 2026
The Ravens are expected to bring in Ben Kotwica as a senior assistant on special teams. Kotwica, 51, served as the Rams interim special teams coordinator for part of the 2025 season. He's also been a special teams coordinator for the Commanders, Jets, Broncos and Falcons
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 11, 2026
