Todd Monken doesn’t care he upset Browns fans with Deshaun Watson decision

The Cleveland Browns are entering the 2026 season with Deshaun Watson as QB1, even if the fans may hate it.

Watson, who’s been booed by the Cleveland faithful after criticizing fans to the press, now faces an uphill battle to earn back popular support, though it seems his coach isn’t too concerned.

Asked about that fan displeasure with his choice to make Watson the starter, head coach Todd Monken said in his press conference on Tuesday that he is “absolutely not” bothered that his selection has been unpopular.

“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.

“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,” Monken said, as detailed by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk.

As for why Watson was picked, Monken made clear that it’s due to his ability to create explosive plays.

“You’re not going to be elite on offense and score points if you can’t create explosives,” Monken said. “It’s so hard to drive the football the length of the field without an explosive. You can look at the studies in terms of percentage of scoring a touchdown or getting a field goal with one explosive in a drive. Obviously, that comes after you’ve gotten the first first down. Every coordinator is going to say we’re chasing explosives, and everyone runs with, ‘Oh [you’re] chasing explosives.’ Well, no [expletive]. Everyone’s chasing explosives and trying to not to turn it over. And that’s what you’re trying to do. What’s the defense trying to do? Turn you over and not allow explosives. That’s really the big chess match is that. The ways that you win.

“So, obviously having explosive players helps that. Being able to scheme it up against certain looks and then being able to execute because your protection has to hold up when you get those opportunities. I’m confident in Deshaun and our ability to push the ball down the field, otherwise we wouldn’t be starting him.”

Given that sentiment, it sounds like the boos won’t keep Watson off the field.

If he can’t produce big plays and turn them into points, though, that might be his undoing as the No. 1 passer in Cleveland.