Todd Monken explains why he left Georgia for Ravens’ OC job

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken left a great situation at Georgia. Why did he leave?

New Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken left a great situation at Georgia to return to the NFL. Monken helped Georgia win back-to-back national championships during his final two seasons in Athens.

Monken has previously served as an NFL offensive coordinator and will get another crack at it with the Ravens. Baltimore’s entire offense is in limbo this offseason. The Ravens rely heavily on quarterback Lamar Jackson for offensive production. However, Jackson is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason.

Todd Monken thinks that the Ravens have one of the best organizations in the NFL. He went on to say that he would only join an organization with similar success to Georgia. Additionally, Monken sees room for improvement in Baltimore’s offense, which is similar to how he felt when he began his career at Georgia in 2020.

Here’s what Monken’s full quote:

I think first is the challenge to do it against the best in the world. I think everybody aspires to have that challenge. If I was going to do it, it was going to be somewhere that was parallel to Georgia. Part of the reason I went to Georgia – one of the main reasons – was because of culture; head coach, winning, really good on defense, obviously trying to find a way to do it better on offense. So, I thought that was a parallel that I thought fit me. So, irrespective of who was or wasn’t going to be on the roster, I felt like it was something that I really wanted to do, and that I’ve always wanted to do. So, that doesn’t mean that I’m not grateful for Kirby Smart and the coaches that I worked with there. I get way too much credit for our success; I came in there, and the culture was already set, the players were already recruited. The staff that we put together was tremendous in terms of our success, but this was what was next. You can’t be two places at once; that’s just the way it is sometimes in life. That was a great job, and it was hard. You get close to the players, but you can’t be two places at once and this is what’s next.

Monken is thankful for his time in Georgia. He went out of his way to credit Georgia and Kirby Smart for having a good system in place and a lot of talented players.

Former Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean and his wife are part of the reason why Todd Monken was on the Ravens’ radar. Tom Crean’s wife, Joani, is the sister of Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. She is also friends with Todd Monken.

Kirby Smart and Georgia hired Mike Bobo as the program’s new offensive coordinator. Bobo served as an offensive analyst for Georgia in 2022 and is replacing Monken in Athens.

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Mark Richt approves of Georgia hiring Mike Bobo

Not surprisingly, former Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt approves of Kirby Smart hiring Mike Bobo as the program’s new OC.

Former Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt approves of Kirby Smart hiring Mike Bobo as the program’s new offensive coordinator.

Richt’s approval should be no surprise for Georgia fans. Mike Bobo coached under Mark Richt at Georgia from 2001 to 2014. Under Richt, Bobo coached quarterbacks from 2001 to 2006. Bobo was the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2014.

Mike Bobo returned to Georgia last season. He served as an offensive analyst for Georgia in 2022. Bobo replaces former Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who accepted the Ravens’ offensive coordinator job.

Former Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt talks talks with his offensive coordinator Mike Bobo before a game. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

During the Mark Richt era, Mike Bobo coached talented offensive players like Todd Gurley, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Murray, and more. Perhaps Bobo and Richt’s best year in Athens came in 2012 when Georgia finished the season 12-2. Yes, Georgia lost a heartbreaker to Alabama in the 2012 SEC championship, but the Dawgs averaged 37.8 points per game and scored 28 points or more in every game except for two.

Mike Bobo returns to the offensive coordinator role in Athens after Georgia just won back-to-back national championships. Georgia has scored 24 or more points in 28 of its last 29 games. The Bulldogs will have the challenge of replacing starting quarterback Stetson Bennett this offseason.

Mike Bobo played quarterback at Georgia from 1993 to 1997. Mike Bobo, Kirby Smart, and Will Muschamp all played football at Georgia during the 1990s.

Mark Richt currently is a college football analyst for the ACC Network and ESPN.

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Report: Georgia football hires Mike Bobo as OC

Bobo replaces Todd Monken, who is returning to the NFL

Head coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs did not take long to hire another offensive coordinator after Todd Monken accepted the Ravens’ offensive coordinator role.

Mike Bobo served as an offensive analyst for Georgia in 2022. Now, Georgia is hiring Bobo as its offensive coordinator. Bobo was the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2014. Bobo coached quarterbacks from 2001 to 2006 during the Mark Richt era in Athens.

Georgia Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is entering into a good situation. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

A lot of things have changed since Bobo left as Georgia’s offensive coordinator in 2014. Kirby Smart and Todd Monken helped Georgia win back-to-back national championships and have recruited at an elite level.

The Georgia offensive line and defense are playing at a much higher level than they were during Bobo’s final few seasons as offensive coordinator at Georgia.

Bobo was the head coach at Colorado State from 2015-2019. Bobo served as the offensive coordinator at South Carolina in 2020 under Will Muschamp and in the same role for Auburn for the 2021 season. Bobo has significant experience coaching in the SEC.

Bobo helped develop quarterbacks David Greene, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Murray. Now, he will be tasked with determining Stetson Bennett’s successor as Georgia’s starting quarterback.

Georgia has a core of coaches that are former Georgia players. Kirby Smart played in Athens from 1995 to 1998. Mike Bobo played quarterback at Georgia from 1993 to 1997. Will Muschamp, who played at Georgia from 1991 to 1994, is the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator.

Seth Emerson of The Athletic first reported Bobo’s hiring:

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Contract details: Georgia football OC Todd Monken

Contract details for Georgia football new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

New Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s contract details have been obtained by Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

Monken signed a three-year contract on March 31. The contract is structured so that his total compensation will increase each year.

The deal covers the 2020, 2021 and 2022 season and expires on June 30, 2023.

Per Weiszer:

The deal increases $150,000 each year, going from $1.1 million in the first year, $1.25 million in the second to $1.4 million in the final year, according to the contract obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald in an open records request.

Monken’s base salary is $390,000 each year but his supplemental compensation starts at $710,000 and increases to $860,000 in the second year and then $1.01 million in the third year. Only his $1.1 million pay in his first year was previously released by Georgia.

Monken will also receive $1,600 worth of yearly apparel and equipment. He will also get $850 a month to be used on a vehicle.

Monken has coached all over the football landscape, including 23 years of college coaching experience and eight years coaching in the NFL.

Most recently, Monken spent a season as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and before that, three seasons as the offensive coordinator and receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 2011-2012, Monken coached Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon and the air-raid Cowboys offense to record-breaking seasons, averaging well over 500 yards a game.

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