Michigan State expected to lose quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian to the Cleveland Browns
Bajakian previously worked with new Cleveland head coach Todd Monken with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also previously worked for Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern.
Michigan State is expected to lose recently-hired quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian to the NFL's Cleveland Browns, sources confirm to Spartans Illustrated.
He will serve as Cleveland's quarterbacks coach. The news was first reported by the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
With the Browns, Bajakian will reunite with newly-hired head coach Todd Monken. Bajakian worked as quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Monken was the offensive coordinator from 2016 through 2018.
Bajakian was officially hired as Michigan State's quarterbacks coach on Jan. 2. Spartans Illustarted confirmed he was head coach Pat Fitzgerald's choice as MSU's quarterbacks coach on Dec. 27. Bajakian was on the road recruiting for the Spartans often throughout the month of January.
Fitzgerald and Bajakian had an already-established relationship, as Bajakian served as Fitzgerald's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern from 2020 through the 2022 season. Bajakian also coached in the same role for the Wildcats under head coach David Braun in 2023.
It is currently unclear whether Michigan State plans to hire a new quarterbacks coach, or opts to give the quarterback coaching duties to offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, who is an accomplished quarterbacks coach in his own right, or another current staff member.
Prior to being hired by Michigan State, Bajakian worked as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Massachusetts in 2025.
A 30-year coaching veteran, Bajakian has had multiple stops at both the NFL level and collegiate level. His experience includes coaching stints with the Chicago Bears and, as previously mentioned, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition MSU, Northwestern and UMass, Bajakian has also coached at Rutgers, Michigan, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Boston College and Utah.
Michigan State returns redshirt sophomore starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic and redshirt freshman Leo Hannan to its quarterbacks room in 2026. The Spartans also bring in Central Florida transfer and sixth-year senior Cam Fancher, and true freshman four-star quarterback Kayd Coffman for this coming season.