Mike Tomlin Browns September 20
Mike Tomlin Browns September 20
Mike Tomlin may have made the comment flippantly or just for a solid media soundbite, but his words one week ago powered the Cleveland Browns to a much-needed Week Two win.
The Browns upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-19 on Sunday. After the game, first-year head coach Todd Monken didn’t hide his feelings about what became a big media story.
“Browns are gonna Browns,” Monken said via local reporter Daniel Oyefusi. “Fuck that. So, the guys took that to heart.”
Todd Monken: Browns are gonna Browns. F— that! pic.twitter.com/loDcRzzF9T
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) September 20, 2026
Repeating the phrase once used by JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tomlin made those comments ahead of Sunday Night Football reacting to the team’s blowout Week One loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. When asked the following day, Monken immediately took issue Tomlin’s remarks.
“Every week is different,” Monken told reporters on Sept. 14. “Every team is different. We just didn’t play well. That’s one week. That’s not Browns being Browns. That’s Browns [playing] poorly on one week…The only way to change people’s opinion is to play better.”
To Monken’s and Cleveland’s credit, the Browns played much better. Quarterback Deshaun Watson played a clean game completing 24-of-30 passes for two touchdowns, zero interceptions, and zero fumbles. Rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston shined with a 55 yard touchdown. Defensively, the Browns sacked QB Baker Mayfield three times, picked him off once, and got the final red zone stand after a two-hour delay due to severe weather.
With the win, the Browns are tied with the Steelers in the standings.
Hours later during Football Night in America, Tomlin responded to Cleveland’s win and Monken’s postgame reply.
“I’m glad that I could still motivate although I’m not coaching anymore,” Tomlin said. “It’s good to be heard.”
The panel ribbed Tomlin for already making waves with his analysis just a couple weeks on the job.
“You’re welcome,” Tomlin told Monken with a smile.
In 2020’s, Smith-Schuster’s comments motivated the Browns to upset the Steelers in the ensuing Wild Card game. In 2026, Tomlin’s words helped propel the Browns to their first win of the season.
As memeable as the quote is, and the reality is Cleveland is still likely to end the year as one of the NFL’s worst teams, maybe Pittsburgh should retire the phrase. Nothing good has happened on the other side.