Soon after the season was over, Romeo Crennel was fired as head coach and was replaced by former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, who was unsure of who would be the Browns's starting quarterback. Thus, a competition for the starting job between Quinn and Anderson occurred throughout the offseason. Four days before the Browns's 2009 opener, it was announced that Quinn would be the starter. Quinn continued to be the Browns' starter until Game 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, when he was benched at halftime in favor of Anderson. The following week, Mangini named Anderson the starter. Quinn did not play again until Week 8, when he was brought in with three minutes to go in a 30–6 loss against the Chicago Bears. As the Browns headed into their bye week, it was not indicated who would be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. However, it was announced five days before their Week 10 Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens, that Quinn was once again being awarded the starting quarterback position. Though he struggled in his first game back, as the Browns were shut out 16–0, Quinn followed it up in Week 11 with his best professional outing yet, throwing for 304 yards with 4 touchdowns against the Detroit Lions. Quinn set a record for the Cleveland Browns that day being the only QB in franchise history to throw 3 touchdowns in one quarter. The Browns later defeated the rival Pittsburgh Steelers knocking them out of playoff contention, Quinn's first win of 2009 as the starting quarterback. The next week the Browns defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 41–34, despite Quinn suffering a “Lisfranc” foot injury during the game. On December 22, the Browns placed Quinn on Injured Reserve for the last 2 games of the season.