Todd Monken reveals the Browns legend he tried to add to his coaching staff

Todd Monken, the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, once attempted to incorporate Cleveland Browns Hall of Famer Joe Thomas into his coaching staff before taking the reins as a head coach. During a media availability on Thursday, Aug. 6, Monken disclosed that he had reached out to Thomas with an offer to assist in coaching the team.

Thomas, who had played left tackle for the Browns for an impressive 11 years, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity but ultimately did not accept the full-time offer due to his preference for not committing to an everyday contract.

Despite Thomas declining the full-time position, he has still been actively involved with the team during their training camp. One of his notable contributions was conducting an interview with the team's first-round draft pick, Spencer Fano, who described Thomas as "one of his heroes" and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to converse with him as he aimed to secure the starting left tackle position.

Cleveland Browns offensive line coach George Warhop, who coached Thomas from 2009 to 2013, expressed his appreciation for Thomas' presence at the Aug. 6 news conference, stating that he is a valuable resource for the team. Warhop emphasized that if any of the team's linemen do not reach out to Thomas, they are considered foolish. Warhop further highlighted Thomas' exceptional work ethic, meticulous study habits, and excellent note-taking skills, which made him an invaluable asset during their shared time at the team.