The 2026 season is the Cleveland Browns' 74th as a member of the National Football League (NFL), their 78th overall, their seventh under general manager Andrew Berry, and their first under new head coach Todd Monken. The Browns will attempt to improve on their 5–12 record from 2025, return to the playoffs after a two-year absence, and end their 33-season division title drought, having last won the then-AFC Central in 1989.

In the offseason, the Browns traded star defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on June 1 in exchange for Jared Verse along with the Rams’ 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, and 2029 third-round pick. In nine seasons with Cleveland, Garrett received seven Pro Bowl selections, seven All-Pro selections, and two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, Additionally, guard Joel Bitonio retired after 12 seasons with the team.

Offseason Coaching changes On January 5, the Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski. During his six-year tenure, the Browns had a record (5–12 in 2025), with two playoff appearances. On January 28, the Browns hired former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as head coach.

On January 22, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees accepted the same position with the Atlanta Falcons to remain on Stefanski's staff, as Atlanta had hired Stefanski on January 18. On January 30, the Browns hired former Baltimore Ravens run game coordinator Travis Switzer as offensive coordinator.

On January 29, special teams coordinator Ray Ventrone accepted the same position with the Los Angeles Rams after two seasons with the Browns. On February 10, the Browns hired former Green Bay Packers assistant special teams coordinator Byron Storer as special teams coordinator.

On February 6, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz resigned. On February 16, the Browns hired former Atlanta Falcons defensive passing game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as defensive coordinator.

Roster changes Free agency + 2026 Cleveland Browns Free Agents Pos Player Tag 2026 team Signed CB Tre Avery UFA Cleveland Browns March 17 LB Jerome Baker UFA G Joel Bitonio UFA Retired June 9 P Corey Bojorquez UFA Cleveland Browns March 12 LB Devin Bush Jr. UFA Chicago Bears March 11 WR DeAndre Carter UFA OT Jack Conklin UFA LB Mohamoud Diabate RFA Tennessee Titans March 23 CB Martin Emerson UFA New Orleans Saints April 28 RB Jerome Ford UFA Washington Commanders March 19 DT Shelby Harris UFA New York Giants April 29 S Ronnie Hickman RFA Cleveland Browns June 11 S Rayshawn Jenkins UFA Pittsburgh Steelers August 2 DE Sam Kamara RFA Cleveland Browns March 24 CB Anthony Kendall ERFA Buffalo Bills August 12 TE David Njoku UFA Los Angeles Chargers May 10 C Ethan Pocic UFA Baltimore Ravens July 17 OT Cam Robinson UFA CB D'Angelo Ross UFA Cleveland Browns March 17 G Wyatt Teller UFA Houston Texans March 17 DE Cameron Thomas UFA Atlanta Falcons March 12 CB Sam Webb RFA Denver Broncos July 30 TE Blake Whiteheart RFA Cleveland Browns March 23 RB Trayveon Williams UFA Detroit Lions August 16

Signings + 2026 Cleveland Browns Free Agents Pos Player 2025 team Signed DT Kalia Davis San Francisco 49ers March 19 C Elgton Jenkins Green Bay Packers March 11 G Zion Johnson Los Angeles Chargers March 11 TE Jack Stoll New Orleans Saints March 11 S Daniel Thomas Detroit Lions March 20 WR Tylan Wallace Baltimore Ravens March 18 LB Quincy Williams New York Jets March 11

Trades + 2026 Cleveland Browns Offseason Trades Date Team Player(s)/Asset(s) Received Player(s)/Asset(s) Traded March 11 Houston Texans OT Tytus Howard 2026 5th-round pickJune 1Los Angeles RamsDE Jared Verse,2027 1st-round pick,2028 2nd-round pick,2029 3rd-round pickDE Myles Garrett

Draft

+ 2026 Cleveland Browns draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 6 Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs 9 Spencer Fano OT Utah From Chiefs 24 KC Concepcion WR Texas A&M From Jaguars 2 39 Denzel Boston WR Washington 58 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S Toledo From 49ers 3 70 Traded to the San Francisco 49ers 74 Traded to the New York Giants From Chiefs 86 Austin Barber OT Florida From Chargers 4 105 Traded to the Los Angeles Chargers From Giants 107 Traded to the San Francisco 49ers 5 141 Traded to the Houston Texans From Raiders 145 Traded to the Los Angeles Chargers From Giants 146 Parker Brailsford C Alabama 148 Traded to the Seattle Seahawks From Chiefs 149 Justin Jefferson LB Alabama From Bengals 152 Traded to the Denver Broncos From 49ers 170 Joe Royer TE Cincinnati From Broncos 6 182 Taylen Green QB Arkansas From Jets via Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, Bills, and Broncos 188 Traded to the Seattle Seahawks 199 Traded to the Cincinnati Bengals From Lions 206 Traded to the Los Angeles Chargers From Bears 7 222 Traded to the Detroit Lions 239 Traded to the Chicago Bears From Eagles via Jaguars 242 Traded to the New York Jets From Bills 248 Carsen Ryan TE BYU From Seahawks

Undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Davon Booth RB Mississippi State Nate Evans CB Delaware Logan Fano DE Utah Bernard Gooden DT LSU TJ Harden RB SMU Izavion Miller OT Auburn DeCarlos Nicholson CB USC Wes Pahl P Oklahoma State Tyreak Sapp DE Florida Khordae Sydnor DE Vanderbilt Zion Washington S Boise State Kole Wilson WR Baylor Michael Coats CB West Virginia Aaron Anderson WR LSU Reid Carrico LB West Virginia

Draft trades

Staff

Current roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Chicago Bears L 10–34 0–1 Soldier Field Recap 2 Buffalo Bills L 7–31 0–2 Huntington Bank Field Recap 3 New England Patriots W 37–13 1–2 Huntington Bank Field Recap

Regular season Schedule Week Date Time () Opponent Result Record Venue Network Recap 1 September 13 1:00p.m. at Jacksonville Jaguars L 10–34 0–1 EverBank Stadium CBS Recap 2 September 20 1:00p.m. at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–19 1–1 Raymond James Stadium CBS Recap 3 September 27 1:00p.m. Carolina Panthers W 21–18 2–1 Huntington Bank Field Fox Recap 4 8:15p.m. Pittsburgh Steelers W 27–24 3–1 Huntington Bank Field Prime Video Recap 5 October 11 1:00p.m. at New York Jets MetLife Stadium CBS 6 October 18 1:00p.m. Baltimore Ravens Huntington Bank Field Fox 7 October 25 1:00p.m. at Tennessee Titans Nissan Stadium CBS 8 November 1 1:00p.m. at Pittsburgh Steelers Acrisure Stadium CBS 9 November 8 1:00p.m. at New Orleans Saints Caesars Superdome CBS 10 November 15 1:00p.m. Houston Texans Huntington Bank Field Fox 11 Bye 12 November 29 1:00p.m. Las Vegas Raiders Huntington Bank Field Fox 13 December 6 1:00p.m. Cincinnati Bengals Huntington Bank Field CBS 14 December 13 1:00p.m. Atlanta Falcons Huntington Bank Field CBS 15 December 20 1:00p.m. at New York Giants MetLife Stadium CBS 16 December 27 1:00p.m. at Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium CBS 17 January 3 1:00p.m. Indianapolis Colts Huntington Bank Field Fox 18 January 9/10 at Cincinnati Bengals Paycor Stadium Notes Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Networks and times from Weeks 5–17 and dates from Weeks 12–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling. The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.

Game summaries Week 1: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Browns erased a 16–6 deficit and defeated the Buccaneers, 23–19. With the win, the Browns improved to 1–1 and won their first game in Tampa since 1989. Kicker Andre Szmyt was named AFC Special Teams Plater of the Week after his three field goal performance.

Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers

With the win, the Browns improved to 2–1.

Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

With the win, the Browns improved to 3–1 and moved sole position of first place in the AFC North for the first time since 2014.

Week 5: at New York Jets

Standings Division

Conference

References

External links