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This article is about the American football team. For the fictional character, see Cleveland Brown.

Cleveland Browns
Current season
Cleveland Browns logo
Cleveland Browns logo
Cleveland Browns wordmark
Cleveland Browns wordmark
LogoWordmark
Established June 4, 1944; 80 years ago (June 4, 1944)[1]
First season: 1946
Play in Cleveland Browns Stadium
Cleveland, Ohio
Headquartered in the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Berea, Ohio[2]
League / conference affiliations
All-America Football Conference (1946–1949)
  • Western Division (1946–1948)

National Football League (1950–present)

Uniforms
Team colorsBrown, orange, white[3][4]
     
MascotChomps, SJ, Brownie the Elf
Websiteclevelandbrowns.com
Personnel
Owner(s)Jimmy Haslam
Dee Haslam[5][6]
General managerAndrew Berry[7][8]
PresidentDavid Jenkins[a]
Head coachKevin Stefanski
Team history
  • Cleveland Browns (1946–1995, 1999–present)
  • Suspended operations (1996–1998)
Championships
League championships (8)
Conference championships (11)
Division championships (12)
Playoff appearances (30)
Home fields
Team owner(s)

The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team is named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown. They play their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium, which opened in 1999,[9][10] with administrative offices and training facilities in Berea, Ohio. The franchise's official club colors are brown, orange, and white.[11] They are unique among the 32 member clubs of the NFL in that they do not have a logo on their helmets.[12][13]

The franchise was founded in 1944 by Brown and businessman Arthur B. McBride as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), and began play in 1946. The Browns dominated the AAFC, compiling a 47–4–3 record in the league's four seasons and winning its championship in each.[14] When the AAFC folded after the 1949 season, the Browns joined the NFL along with the San Francisco 49ers and the original Baltimore Colts. The Browns won a championship in their inaugural NFL season, as well as in the 1954, 1955, and 1964 seasons, and in a feat unequaled in any of the North American major professional sports, played in their league championship game in each of their first 10 years of existence, winning seven of those games. From 1965 to 1995, they qualified to play in the NFL playoffs 14 times, but did not win another championship or play in the Super Bowl during that period.[15]

In 1995, owner Art Modell, who had purchased the Browns in 1961, announced plans to move the team to Baltimore. After threats of legal action from the city of Cleveland and fans, a compromise was reached in early 1996 that allowed Modell to establish the Baltimore Ravens as a new franchise while retaining the contracts of all Browns personnel. The Browns' intellectual property, including team name, logos, training facility, and history, were kept in trust and the franchise was regarded by the NFL as suspended, guaranteed to return no later than the 1999 season, either by relocation of an existing franchise or an expansion draft. While several of the existing franchises at the time considered relocating to Cleveland, in 1998 it was confirmed that the NFL would hold an expansion draft and field 31 teams when the Browns resumed play in 1999. And although the 1999 Browns were restocked via an expansion draft, the Browns are not considered to be an expansion franchise.[16]

Since resuming operations in 1999, the Browns have struggled to find success, especially during the 2010s when they did not post one winning season throughout that decade.[17] They have had only four winning seasons (2002, 2007, 2020, and 2023), three playoff appearances (2002, 2020, and 2023), and one playoff win (2020), winning less than one third of their games in total, and in 2017 were only the second team in NFL history to have a 0–16 season after the 2008 Detroit Lions. The franchise has also been noted for a lack of stability with head coaches (10 full time - including two who were fired after only one season - and two interim since 1999) and quarterbacks (38 different starters since 1999). From 2003 to 2019, the Browns had a 17-season playoff drought, which ended during the 2020 season.[18][19] They are one of four teams to have never appeared in a Super Bowl.

History

Main article: History of the Cleveland Browns
Further information: List of Cleveland Browns seasons
The Browns were named after original head coach Paul Brown

The Cleveland Browns were founded in 1944 when taxi-cab magnate Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride secured a Cleveland franchise in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC).[20] Paul Brown was the team's namesake and first coach. The Browns began play in 1946 in the AAFC. The Browns won each of the league's four championship games before the league dissolved in 1949. The team then moved to the more established National Football League (NFL), where it continued to dominate. Between 1950 and 1955, Cleveland reached the NFL championship game every year, winning three times.[21][22][23]

McBride and his partners sold the team to a group of Cleveland businessmen in 1953 for a then-unheard-of $600,000. Eight years later, the team was sold again, this time to a group led by New York advertising executive Art Modell. Modell fired Brown before the 1963 season, but the team continued to win behind running back Jim Brown. The Browns won the championship in 1964 and reached the title game the following season, losing to the Green Bay Packers.[24]

When the AFL and NFL merged before the 1970 season, Cleveland became part of the new American Football Conference (AFC). While the Browns made it back to the playoffs in 1971 and 1972, they fell into mediocrity through the mid-1970s. A revival of sorts took place in 1979 and 1980, when quarterback Brian Sipe engineered a series of last-minute wins and the Browns came to be called the "Kardiac Kids". Under Sipe, however, the Browns did not make it past the first round of the playoffs. Quarterback Bernie Kosar, whom the Browns drafted in 1985, led the team to three AFC Championship games in the late 1980s but lost each time to the Denver Broncos.[25][26][27]

In 1995, Modell announced he was relocating the Browns to Baltimore, sowing a mix of outrage and bitterness among Cleveland's dedicated fan base.[28] Negotiations and legal battles led to an agreement where Modell would be allowed to take his personnel to Baltimore as an expansion franchise, called the Baltimore Ravens,[29] but would leave Cleveland the Browns' colors, logos and heritage for a reactivated Browns franchise that would take the field no later than 1999.[30]

After three years of inactivity while Cleveland Stadium was demolished and Cleveland Browns Stadium was built on its site, the Browns were reactivated and started play again in 1999 under new owner Al Lerner.[31] Under head coach Chris Palmer, the Browns went 2–14 in 1999 and 3–13 in 2000.[32] The Browns struggled throughout the 2000s and 2010s, posting a record of 101–234–1 (.302) since their 1999 return. The Browns have only posted four winning seasons and three playoff appearances (2002, 2020, 2023) since returning to the NFL.[33] The team's struggles have been magnified since 2012, when the Lerner family sold the team to businessman Jimmy Haslam.[34] In six seasons under Haslam's ownership, the Browns went through four head coaches and four general managers, none of whom had found success.

Butch Davis was named head coach prior to the 2001 season.[35] In his first season, he led the team to a 7–9 record in 2001.[36] He led the team to a playoff berth with a 9–7 record in 2002.[37] The Browns lost 36–33 to the Steelers in the Wild Card Round.[38] The team regressed to a 5–11 record in the 2003 season.[39] Prior to the 2005 season, the team hired Romeo Crennel to the be their next head coach.[40] He went 6–10 in 2005 and 4–12 in 2006.[41][42] He posted a winning 10–6 record that did not qualify for the playoffs in the 2007 season.[43] He went 4–12 in the 2008 season and was fired following the season.[44][45] Eric Mangini posted consecutive 5–11 seasons as head coach in 2009 and 2010 before getting fired.[46][47][48][49] Pat Shurmur coached the team to a 4–12 record in 2011 and a 5–11 record in 2012 before getting fired.[50][51][52][53] Rob Chudzinski coached the Browns in the 2013 season.[54] He was fired after a 4–12 campaign.[55] Mike Pettine coached the team in 2014 and 2015, going 7–9 and 3–13 before getting fired.[56][57][58][59] In 2016 and 2017 under head coach Hue Jackson, the Browns went 1–31 (.031, including a winless 0–16 season in 2017), the worst two-year stretch in NFL history, and received the number one overall draft pick in both of those years.[60][61][62] Those top overall draft picks were used on Myles Garrett and Baker Mayfield.[63][64]

Prior to the 2019 season, Freddie Kitchens was hired as head coach.[65] Kitchens led the team to a 6–10 record and was fired following the season.[66][67] Prior to the 2020 season, the Browns hired Kevin Stefanski as their head coach.[68] In 2020, the Browns secured their first playoff berth since 2002 by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 17 and finishing the season 11–5.[18] In the Wild Card Round, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 48–37 for their first playoff win since 1994.[69] The Browns saw their season end in a 22–17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.[70] The 2021 season saw the Browns go 8–9 and miss the postseason.[71] In the following season, the Browns went 7–10 and missed the postseason for the 2022 season.[72] In the 2023 season, the Browns returned to the postseason with a 11–6 mark.[73] The Browns ended their season with a 45–14 loss to the Texans in the Wild Card Round.[74]

Logos and uniforms

Main article: Logos and uniforms of the Cleveland Browns

Logos

Brownie elf logo used at midfield since 2022

The Browns are the only National Football League team without a helmet logo. The logoless helmet serves as the Browns' official logo. The organization has used several promotional logos throughout the years; players' numbers were painted on the helmets from 1957 to 1960; and an unused "CB" logo[75] was created in 1965.[76] But for much of their history, the Browns' helmets have been an unadorned burnt orange color with a top stripe of dark brown (officially called "seal brown") divided by a white stripe.

The team has had various promotional logos throughout the years, such as the "Brownie Elf" mascot or a Brown "B" in a white football. While Art Modell did away with the elf in the mid-1960s (believing it to be too childish), its use has been revived since the team's return in 1999. The popularity of the Dawg Pound section at First Energy Stadium has led to a brown and orange dog being used for various Browns functions. But overall, the orange, logo-less helmet continues as the primary trademark of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have used special commemorative logos during individual seasons, such as the 1999 logo to celebrate the team's return to the NFL, a 60th-anniversary logo for the 2006 season, and a 75th-anniversary logo in 2021.[77]

Browns "dawg logo", a secondary logo introduced in 2023

The current logos and wordmarks were introduced on February 24, 2015, with the helmet design remaining largely as is, the only differences being minor color changes to the shade of orange used on the helmet and the facemask being changed from gray to brown.[11][12][78] A new secondary "dawg" logo was introduced in 2023. The logo, featuring a bull mastiff dog, was created by graphic designer Houston Mark and was the winning entry of a fan vote. It features numerous small homages to the city of Cleveland, state of Ohio, and the team's history.[79][80]

For the 2022 season, by virtue of a fan poll, a version of the Brownie elf logo was featured at midfield at FirstEnergy Stadium.[81]

Uniforms

The original designs of the jerseys, pants, and socks remained mostly the same, but the helmets went through many significant revisions throughout the years. The Browns uniforms saw their first massive change prior to the 2015 season.

Jerseys:

  1. Brown – brown (officially "seal brown") with orange-colored numbers and writing, and an orange-white-orange stripe sequence on the sleeves.
  2. White (away) – white with orange numbers and writing, with a brown-orange-brown stripe sequence.
  3. Orange – orange with white numerals and writing, and a brown-white-brown stripe sequence.

Pants:

  1. Brown – brown pants with an orange-white-orange stripe sequence down two-thirds the length of the pants. The other third is the word "BROWNS," written in orange.
  2. White – white pants with a brown-orange-brown stripes. "BROWNS" is written in brown.
  3. Orange – orange pants with a brown-white-brown stripe sequence. "BROWNS" is written in brown.

Socks:

  1. Solid brown.
  2. Solid white.
  3. Solid orange.

Helmet: Solid white (1946–1949); solid white for day games and solid orange for night games (1950–1951); orange with a single white stripe (1952–1956); orange with a single white stripe and brown numerals on the sides (1957–1959); orange with a brown-white-brown stripe sequence and brown numerals on the sides (1960); orange with a brown-white-brown stripe sequence (1961–1995 and 1999–present).

Over the years, the Browns have had on-and-off periods of wearing white for their home games, particularly in the 1970s and 80s, as well as in the early 2000s after the team returned to the league. Until recently, when more NFL teams have started to wear white at home at least once a season, the Browns were the only non-subtropical team north of the Mason-Dixon line to wear white at home on a regular basis.

Secondary numerals (called "TV numbers") first appeared on the jersey sleeves in 1961. Over the years, there have been minor revisions to the sleeve stripes, the first occurring in 1968 (brown jerseys worn in early season) and 1969 (white and brown jerseys) when stripes began to be silkscreened onto the sleeves and separated from each other to prevent color bleeding. However, the basic five-stripe sequence has remained intact (with the exception of the 1984 season). A recent revision was the addition of the initials "AL" to honor team owner Al Lerner who died in 2002; this was removed in 2013 upon Jimmy Haslam assuming ownership of the team.

Orange pants with a brown-white-brown stripe sequence were worn from 1975 to 1983 and become symbolic of the "Kardiac Kids" era. The orange pants were worn again occasionally in 2003 and 2004.

Other than the helmet, the uniform was completely redesigned for the 1984 season. New striping patterns appeared on the white jerseys, brown jerseys and pants. Solid brown socks were worn with brown jerseys and solid orange socks were worn with white jerseys. Brown numerals on the white jerseys were outlined in orange. White numerals on the brown jerseys were double outlined in brown and orange. (Orange numerals double outlined in brown and white appeared briefly on the brown jerseys in one pre-season game.[82]) However, this particular uniform set was not popular with the fans, and in 1985 the uniform was returned to a look similar to the original design. It remained that way until 1995.

In 1999, the expansion Browns adopted the traditional design with two exceptions: first, the TV numbers, previously on the sleeves, were moved to the shoulders; and second, the orange-brown-orange pants stripes were significantly widened.

Experimentation with the uniform design began in 2002. An alternate orange jersey was introduced that season as the NFL encouraged teams to adopt a third jersey, and a major design change was made when solid brown socks appeared for the first time since 1984 and were used with white, brown and orange jerseys. Other than 1984, striped socks (matching the jersey stripes) had been a signature design element in the team's traditional uniform. The white striped socks appeared occasionally with the white jerseys in 2003–2005 and 2007.

Experimentation continued in 2003 and 2004 when the traditional orange-brown-orange stripes on the white pants were replaced by two variations of a brown-orange-brown sequence, one in which the stripes were joined (worn with white jerseys) and the other in which they were separated by white (worn with brown jerseys). The joined sequence was used exclusively with both jerseys in 2005. In 2006, the traditional orange-brown-orange sequence returned.

Additionally in 2006, the team reverted to an older uniform style, featuring gray face masks; the original stripe pattern on the brown jersey sleeves (The white jersey has had that sleeve stripe pattern on a consistent basis since the 1985 season.) and the older, darker shade of brown.

The Browns wore brown pants for the first time in team history on August 18, 2008, preseason game against the New York Giants. The pants contain no stripes or markings. The team had the brown pants created as an option for their away uniform when they integrated the gray facemask in 2006.[83] They were not worn again until the Browns "family" scrimmage on August 9, 2009, with white-striped socks.[84] The Browns have continued to wear the brown pants throughout the 2009 season.[85] Browns quarterback Brady Quinn supported the team's move to wearing the brown pants full-time, claiming that the striped pattern on the white pants "prohibit[ed] mobility".[86] However, the fans generally did not like the brown pants, and after being used for only one season, the team returned to their white shirt-on-white pants in 2010. Coach Eric Mangini told The Plain Dealer the Browns won't use the brown pants anymore. "It wasn't very well-received," Mangini said. "I hope we can get to the point where we can wear fruit on our heads and people wouldn't notice."[87] At the time, the brown pants weren't officially dropped by the team, but simply not used.

Senior member of the owning family, Jimmy Haslam
EVP of Football Operations/GM Andrew Berry
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski
Starting quarterback Deshaun Watson
Five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett

The Browns chose to wear white at home for the 2011 season, and wound up wearing white for all 16 games as when they were on the road, the home team would wear their darker colored uniform.[88]

The Browns brought back the brown pants in their home game against the Buffalo Bills on October 3, 2013, on Thursday Night Football, pairing them with the brown jerseys. It marked the first time the team wore an all-brown combination in team history.[89]

On April 14, 2015, the Cleveland Browns unveiled their new uniform combinations, consisting of the team's colors of orange, brown and white,[90][91] but with the slight altering of the orange color to a slightly darker, but more vibrant matte orange (noticeable on the helmet, which featured a seal brown facemask), and seal brown and white, with orange numerals which featured a dropshaw (brown on the white road and orange alternate and white on the home brown jerseys). Above the jersey numerals, the word "CLEVELAND" appeared emblazoned in brown (orange on the home brown and white on the orange alternate jerseys) in a custom sans-serif font type.

The Browns brought back the all-brown look for the NFL Color Rush program in 2016, minus the white elements. In 2018, despite the Color Rush program being discontinued, the uniform was worn at home three times. For the 2019 season, the Browns promoted this uniform to their primary home uniform and donned it for six home games as well as any away game in which the home team wore white.[92]

The club unveiled a new uniform design for the 2020 season. The new uniform design pays homage to the Browns' classic uniform design from years past.[93][94]

In 2023, the Browns introduced new "White Out" uniforms, an all-white uniform, featuring a white helmet, that will be worn during select home games. This will mark the first time since 1950 the Browns will have non-orange helmets. The white helmets, which will feature an orange stripe down the middle flanked by two brown stripes (basically inverting the regular helmet's colors), are an homage to the early years of the franchise.[95][96]

Rivalries

The Browns have rivalries with all three of their AFC North opponents. In addition, the team has had historical rivalries with the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans.

Divisional rivalries

Pittsburgh Steelers

Main article: Browns–Steelers rivalry

Often called the "Turnpike Rivalry",[97] the Browns' biggest rival has long been the Pittsburgh Steelers. Former Browns owner Art Modell scheduled home games against the Steelers on Saturday nights from 1964 to 1970 to help fuel the rivalry. The rivalry has also been fueled by the proximity of the two teams, number of championships both teams have won, players and personnel having played and/or coached for both sides, and personal bitterness. The teams have played twice annually since 1950, making it the oldest rivalry in the AFC and the fifth-oldest rivalry in the NFL. Though the Browns dominated this rivalry early in the series (winning the first eight meetings and posting a 31–9 record in the 1950s and 1960s), the Steelers went 15–5 in the 1970s and 36–9–1 since the Browns returned to the league in 1999. The Steelers have been particularly dominant in Pittsburgh, posting a 44–7 record when hosting the Browns since 1970, including to winning streaks of 16 games (1970–85) and 17 games (2004–20).

The Steelers currently hold a 79–61–1 lead.[98] The Browns and Steelers met in the playoffs in 1994, 2002, and 2020, with the Steelers holding a 2–1 lead in the postseason series. Though the rivalry has cooled in Pittsburgh due to the Modell move as well as the Browns' poor play since 1999, the Steelers still remain the top rival for Cleveland.

Cincinnati Bengals

Main article: Bengals–Browns rivalry

Originally conceived due to the personal animosity between Paul Brown and Art Modell, the "Battle of Ohio" between the Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals has been fueled by the sociocultural differences between Cincinnati and Cleveland, a shared history between the two teams, and similar team colors, as Brown used the exact shade of orange for the Bengals that he used for the Browns. (Though this has changed since then, as the Bengals now use a brighter shade of orange.) Modell, in fact, moved the Browns to the AFC after the AFL–NFL merger in order to have a rivalry with the Bengals. The rivalry has also produced two of the eleven highest-scoring games in NFL history. Cincinnati has the all-time edge 52–48. While the Bengals have a 28–21 edge since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999, this series has been more competitive than the Browns' series with their other division rivals, and the Browns have won 9 of the last 11 meetings.[99]

Baltimore Ravens

Main article: Browns–Ravens rivalry

Created as a result of the Browns' relocation controversy, the rivalry between the Browns and Baltimore Ravens was more directed at Art Modell than the team itself, and is simply considered a divisional game in Baltimore. This matchup is more bitter for Cleveland than the others due to the fact that the draft picks for 1995 to 1998 resulted in the rosters that won the Super Bowl for the Ravens in 2000. Had Modell not moved the team, these teams, drafted by general manager and former Browns tight end Ozzie Newsome, might have given the Browns a title after a 35-year drought.[100] As of the 2023 season, the Ravens lead the overall series 36–14.[101] The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

Other rivalries

Detroit Lions

The Browns' rivalry with the Detroit Lions began in the 1950s, when the Browns and Lions played each other in four NFL Championship Games. The Lions won three of those championships, while the Browns won one. This was arguably one of the NFL's best rivalries in the 1950s.[102][103][104][105] Since the NFL-AFL merger of 1970, the teams have met much less frequently with the Browns' move to the AFC. From 2002 to 2014, the two teams played an annual preseason game known as the "Great Lakes Classic".[106] As of the 2023 season, the Lions lead the all-time series 19–6.[107]

Denver Broncos

See also: The Drive (American football) and The Fumble

The Browns had a brief rivalry with the Denver Broncos that arose from three AFC Championship Games from 1986 to 1989. In the 1986 AFC Championship, quarterback John Elway led The Drive to secure a tie in the waning moments at Cleveland Municipal Stadium; the Broncos went on to win in 23–20 in overtime. One year later, the two teams met again in the 1987 AFC Championship game at Mile High Stadium. Denver took a 21–3 lead, but Browns' quarterback Bernie Kosar threw four touchdown passes to tie the game at 31–31 halfway through the 4th quarter. After a long drive, John Elway threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to running back Sammy Winder to give Denver a 38–31 lead. Cleveland advanced to Denver's 8-yard line with 1:12 left, but Broncos' safety Jeremiah Castille stripped Browns' running back Earnest Byner of the football at the 2-yard line—a play that has been called The Fumble by Browns' fans. The Broncos recovered it, gave Cleveland an intentional safety, and went on to win 38–33. The two teams met yet again in the 1989 AFC Championship at Mile High Stadium, which the Broncos easily won by a score of 37–21.

This short-lived rivalry also featured a controversial 16–13 Browns' win at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in the 1989 regular season. The game was decided by a Matt Bahr 48-yard field goal as time expired - a kick that barely cleared the crossbar. Bahr's field goal came after referee Tom Dooley ordered the teams to switch ends of the field midway through the 4th quarter, thanks to rowdy Dawg Pound fans who pelted the Broncos with dog biscuits, eggs and other debris. The switch gave the Browns a small, timely wind advantage to finish the game.

More recently, the rivalry has cooled off as the Broncos won 11 straight meetings from 1991 to 2015 before Cleveland broke that streak with a narrow 17–16 win in 2018. As of the 2023 season, Denver leads the overall series, 25–7.[108]

San Francisco 49ers

The most competitive team in the AAFC era for the Browns was the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco finished second to the Browns in each of the four seasons that the league played. Two of the Browns' four losses in that era were to the 49ers (including a loss that ended the Browns' 29-game unbeaten streak); the rivalry did not last into the NFL years, particularly after the teams were placed in opposite conferences in 1970. The rivalry has turned into a friendly relationship as many 49ers personnel helped the Browns relaunch in 1999, specifically former 49ers president and CEO Carmen Policy and vice president/director of football operations Dwight Clark, who were hired by the expansion Browns in the same roles. In addition, 49ers owners John York and Denise DeBartolo York reside in Youngstown, 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Cleveland. Long-time Browns placekicker and fan favorite Phil Dawson and backup quarterback Colt McCoy signed with the 49ers in 2014. As of the 2023 season, the Browns lead the all-time series 20–10.[109]

Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans

The Browns' rivalry with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans dates back to the Browns and then-Oilers being placed in the AFC Central after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. As such, the teams played each other twice annually from 1970 until 2002 when divisional realignment placed the Browns in the AFC North and the now-Titans in the AFC South (excluding 1996-98 when the Browns were inactive). The teams have met much less frequently since 2002. The Browns lead the overall series 37–32, and the 69 meetings with the Oilers/Titans are the third-most of any Cleveland opponent, trailing only the Steelers and Bengals.[110]

The height of this rivalry was during the 1980s. Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville and Marty Schottenheimer shared several bitter exchanges during the decade and the Browns and Oilers had their only playoff meeting in the 1988 Wild Card Round, in which the Oilers came away with a narrow 24–23 victory. There have been a few memorable games in recent years. In 2014, the Browns erased a 28–3 deficit to come away with a 29–28 win. In a December 2020 contest with playoff implications for both teams, the Browns jumped to a 38–7 halftime lead, setting a franchise record for points in the first half. However, Tennessee rallied in the second half but came up just short as the Browns hung on for a 41–35 win.

Fan base

A 2006 study conducted by Bizjournal determined that Browns fans are the most loyal fans in the NFL. The study, while not scientific, was largely based on fan loyalty during winning and losing seasons, attendance at games, and challenges confronting fans (such as inclement weather or long-term poor performance of their team).[111] The study noted that Browns fans filled 99.8% of the seats at Cleveland Browns Stadium during the last seven seasons, despite a combined record of 36–76 over that span.[112]

Dawg Pound

Main article: Dawg Pound

Perhaps the most visible Browns fans are those that can be found in the Dawg Pound.[113] Originally the name for the bleacher section located in the open (east) end of old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the current incarnation is likewise located in the east end of FirstEnergy Stadium and still features hundreds of orange and brown clad fans sporting various canine-related paraphernalia. The fans adopted that name in 1984 after members of the Browns defense used it to describe the team's defense.[114]

Retired cornerback Hanford Dixon, who played his entire career for the Browns (1981–1989), is credited with naming the Cleveland Browns defense 'The Dawgs' in the mid-1980s. Dixon and teammates Frank Minnifield and Eddie Johnson would bark at each other and to the fans in the bleachers at the Cleveland Stadium to fire them up. It was from Dixon's naming that the Dawg Pound subsequently took its title.[115] The fans adopted that name in the years after.[114] Due to this nickname, since the team's revival the Browns have used a bulldog as an alternate logo.[116]

Browns mascot Chomps shown in 2010 greeting U.S. National Guard members at a home game

Browns Backers

The most prominent organization of Browns fans is the Browns Backers Worldwide (BBW). The organization has approximately 305,000 members[117] and Browns Backers clubs can be found in every major city in the United States, and in a number of military bases throughout the world, with the largest club being in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, the organization has a sizable foreign presence in places as far away as Egypt, Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka, and McMurdo Station in Antarctica.[118] According to The Official Fan Club of the Cleveland Browns, the two largest international fan clubs are in Alon Shvut, West Bank and Niagara, Canada, with Alon Shvut having 129 members and Niagara having 310.[119]

Following former Browns owner Randy Lerner's acquisition of English soccer club Aston Villa, official Villa outlets started selling Cleveland Browns goods such as jerseys and NFL footballs. This has raised interest in England and strengthened the link between the two sporting clubs. Aston Villa supporters have set up an organization known as the Aston (Villa) Browns Backers of Birmingham. [120]

Players of note

Current roster

Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve


As of December 26, 2024. Rookies in italics.

53 active, 19 reserve, 15 practice squad (+1 exempt)

Players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame FB Jim Brown
Hall of Fame QB Otto Graham
Hall of Fame K/OT Lou Groza
Hall of Fame WR Dante Lavelli
Hall of Fame RB Leroy Kelly
Hall of Fame FB Marion Motley
Hall of Fame TE Ozzie Newsome
Hall of Fame LT Joe Thomas

The Cleveland Browns have the fourth-largest number of players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with a total of 17 enshrined players elected based on their performance with the Browns, and nine more players or coaches elected who spent at least one year with the Browns franchise.[121] No Browns players were inducted in the inaugural induction class of 1963. Otto Graham was the first Browns player to be enshrined as a member of the class of 1965, and the most recent Browns player to be included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is Joe Thomas, who was a member of the class of 2023, who is the first member inducted that played in the 21st century. [122]

Cleveland Browns in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Inducted No. Player name Tenure Position(s)
1965 60, 14 Otto Graham 1946–1955 QB
1967 — Paul Brown 1946–1962 Head coach
1968 76, 36 Marion Motley 1946–1953 FB
1971 32 Jim Brown 1957–1965 FB
1974 46, 76 Lou Groza 1946–1959
1961–1967 		OT
K
1975 56, 86 Dante Lavelli 1946–1956 WR
1976 53, 80 Len Ford 1950–1957 DE
1977 30, 45, 60 Bill Willis 1946–1953 T, OG
1981 77 Willie Davis * 1958–1959 DE
1982 83 Doug Atkins 1953–1954 DE
1983 49 Bobby Mitchell 1958–1961 WR, RB, HB
42 Paul Warfield 1964–1969
1976–1977 		WR
1984 74 Mike McCormack 1954–1962 OT
1985 22, 52 Frank Gatski 1946–1956 C
1987 18 Len Dawson 1960–1961 QB
1994 44 Leroy Kelly 1964–1973 RB
1995 72 Henry Jordan 1957–1958 DT
1998 29 Tommy McDonald 1968 WR
1999 82 Ozzie Newsome 1978–1990 TE
2003 64 Joe DeLamielleure 1980–1984 OG
2007 66 Gene Hickerson 1958–1960
1962–1973 		OG
2020 58, 88 Mac Speedie 1946–1952 End
2023 73 Joe Thomas 2007–2017 OT

Cleveland Browns legends

1964 Cleveland Browns NFL Champions jersey signed by the team's players

The Cleveland Browns legends program honors former Browns who made noteworthy contributions to the history of the franchise. In addition to all the Hall of Famers listed above, the Legends list includes:[123]

Cleveland Browns legends
Inducted No. Player name Position(s) Tenure
2001 19 Bernie Kosar QB 1985–1993
92 Michael Dean Perry DE 1989–1994
34 Greg Pruitt RB 1973–1981
26 Ray Renfro WR 1952–1963
2002 57 Clay Matthews LB 1978–1993
17 Brian Sipe QB 1974–1983
2003 29 Hanford Dixon CB 1981–1989
74/79 Bob Gain DT 1952–1964
77/80 Dick Schafrath OT 1959–1971
2004 86 Gary Collins WR 1962–1971
42/82 Tommy James P 1948–1955
40/86 Dub Jones WR 1948–1955
43 Mike Pruitt RB 1976–1984
2005 31 Frank Minnifield CB 1984–1992
13 Frank Ryan QB 1962–1968
72 Jerry Sherk DT 1970–1981
64/84 Jim Ray Smith OT 1956–1962
2006 20/21/44 Earnest Byner RB 1984–1988
1994–1995
73 Doug Dieken OT 1971–1984
82 Jim Houston LB 1960–1972
34 Walt Michaels LB 1952–1961
2007 12 Don Cockroft K 1968–1980
59/84 Horace Gillom P 1947–1956
80 Bill Glass DE 1962–1968
34 Kevin Mack RB 1985–1993
2008 71 Walter Johnson DT 1965–1976
24/80 Warren Lahr DB 1949–1959
21 Eric Metcalf RB/KR 1989–1994
84/86 Paul Wiggin DE 1957–1967
2010 63 Cody Risien OT 1979–1989
60 John Wooten OG 1959–1967
2011 50 Vince Costello LB 1957–1966
54 Tom DeLeone C 1974–1984
2012 22 Clarence Scott S 1971–1983
48 Ernie Green RB 1962–1968
2013 35 Galen Fiss LB 1956–1966
34/64 Abe Gibron G 1950–1956
2014 68 Robert Jackson G 1975–1985
89 Milt Morin TE 1966–1975
2015 70 Don Colo DT 1953–1958
79 Bob Golic NT 1982–1988
2016 52 Dick Ambrose LB 1975–1983
27 Thom Darden FS 1972–1981
2017 30 Bernie Parrish DB 1959–1966
74 Tony Adamle LB/FB 1947–1951, 1954
2018 40 Erich Barnes DB 1965–1971
51 Eddie Johnson LB 1981–1990
2020 16 Josh Cribbs WR/KR 2005–2012
84 Webster Slaughter WR 1986–1991
2021 52/58 D'Qwell Jackson LB 2006–2013
16 Bill Nelsen QB 1968–1972
2022 82/88 Pete Brewster TE 1952–1958
73 Joe Thomas OT 2007–2017

Pro Bowlers

Main article: List of Cleveland Browns Pro Bowlers

[124]

Retired uniform numbers

Cleveland Browns retired numbers
Otto Graham
QB, 1946–1955 		Jim Brown
FB, 1957–1965 		Ernie Davis
HB, 1962 		Don Fleming
S, 1960–1962 		Lou Groza
OT/K, 1946–1959, 1961–1967

Ring of Honor

Beginning in 2010, the Browns established a Ring of Honor, honoring the greats from the past by having their names displayed around the upper deck of FirstEnergy Stadium.[125] The inaugural class in the Browns Ring of Honor was unveiled during the home opener on September 19, 2010, and featured the 16 Hall of Famers listed above who went into the Hall of Fame as Browns.[126] In 2018, Joe Thomas was entered into the Ring of Honor with the number 10,363 – commemorating his NFL record of consecutive snaps played on offense.[127] In 2019, four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. was entered into the Ring of Honor.[128][129]

Banner unveiled during halftime of the Chiefs–Browns game depicting the first sixteen inductees of the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor, September 2010
Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor
Inducted No. Name Position(s) Tenure
2010 32 Jim Brown FB 1957–1965
— Paul Brown Head coach 1946–1962
64 Joe DeLamielleure OG 1980–1984
53, 80 Len Ford DE 1950–1957
22, 52 Frank Gatski C 1946–1956
60, 14 Otto Graham QB 1946–1955
46, 76 Lou Groza OT
K 		1946–1959
1961–1967
66 Gene Hickerson OG 1958–1960
1962–1973
44 Leroy Kelly RB 1964–1973
56, 86 Dante Lavelli WR 1946–1956
74 Mike McCormack OT 1954–1962
49 Bobby Mitchell WR, RB, HB 1958–1961
76, 36 Marion Motley FB 1946–1953
82 Ozzie Newsome TE 1978–1990
42 Paul Warfield WR 1964–1969
1976–1977
30, 45, 60 Bill Willis T, OG 1946–1953
2018 73 Joe Thomas OT 2007–2017
2019 57 Clay Matthews LB 1978–1993
2021 58, 88 Mac Speedie WR 1946–1952
Source:[130]

Statues

Numerous Browns players and staff have had statues made in their honor:

In and around First Energy Stadium

  • 1964 NFL Champion and Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown – since 2016[131]
  • Three-time NFL Champion and Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Graham – since 2019[132]

In and around Cleveland

  • Late owner Alfred Lerner in front of the team's headquarters/practice facility in Berea, Ohio – since 2003[133]
  • Browns Hall of Fame offensive tackle/kicker Lou Groza in front of a youth football field that bears his name, also in Berea – since 2016[134]

Murals

Browns players featured on murals in downtown Cleveland include:

Streets

  • The street near Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland was renamed "Alfred Lerner Way" in 2002 after the late owner.[137]
  • The street in Berea, Ohio where the Browns headquarters and practice facility are located is named "Lou Groza Boulevard".[138]

Starting quarterbacks

Main article: List of Cleveland Browns starting quarterbacks

[139]

First-round draft picks

Main article: List of Cleveland Browns first-round draft picks

As of the 2023 season, the Browns have had the first overall pick in the NFL Draft on five occasions: 1954, 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2018.[140]

Coaches of note

Head coaches

Main article: List of Cleveland Browns head coaches

The Browns have had 22 head coaches serve in the capacity.[141]

Current staff

Cleveland Browns staff
Front office
  • Owners – Jimmy Haslam, Dee Haslam, Whitney Haslam-Johnson, J.W. Johnson
  • Chief strategy officer – Paul DePodesta
  • Executive vice president/COO – David Jenkins
  • Executive vice president of football operations/general manager – Andrew Berry
  • Assistant general manager/vice president of football operations – Catherine Hickman
  • Assistant general manager/vice president of player personnel – Glenn Cook
  • Vice president of football administration – Chris Cooper
  • Vice president of research and strategy – Andrew Healy
  • Vice president of player personnel process and development – Ken Kovash
  • Director of football administration – Taylor Young
  • Director of player personnel – Dan Saganey
  • Director of pro scouting – Adam Al-Khayyal
  • Director of college scouting – Max Paulus
  • Senior personnel/coaching executive – Bob Quinn
  • Senior executive advisor to the GM – Jimmy Raye III
  • Advisor to the GM – Chris Polian
  • Director of football operations – Tyler Hamblin
  • Director of football operations & process – Joy Tapajcik
  • Director of research and strategy – Dave Giuliani
  • Director of scouting research – Mike Cetta
  • Director of football information systems – Brad DeAngelis
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
  • Offensive coordinator – Ken Dorsey
  • Senior offensive assistant – Bill Musgrave
  • Running backs – Duce Staley
  • Pass game coordinator/wide receivers – Chad O'Shea
  • Assistant wide receivers – Callie Brownson
  • Pass game specialist/tight ends – Tommy Rees
  • Offensive line – Andy Dickerson
  • Assistant offensive line – Roy Istvan
  • Offensive assistant/run game specialist – Nick Charlton
  • Offensive assistant/quarterbacks – Ashton Grant
  • Bill Willis diversity coaching fellow – Nemo Washington
  
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
  • Assistant special teams – Stephen Bravo-Brown
Support staff
  • Senior assistant/special projects – Kevin Rogers
  • Coordinator of coaching logistics – Riley Hecklinski
Strength and conditioning
  • Director of high performance – Shaun Huls
  • Director of strength and conditioning – Larry Jackson
  • Assistant strength and conditioning/sports science – Josh Christovich
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Monty Gibson
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Dale Jones
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Evan Marcus
  • Director of performance nutrition – Katy Meassick

→ Coaching staff
→ Front office
→ More NFL staffs

Media

Main article: List of Cleveland Browns broadcasters

Radio

WKNR (850 AM), WKRK-FM (92.3 FM), and WNCX (98.5 FM) serve as co-flagship stations for the Cleveland Browns Radio Network.[142]

Jim Donovan serves as play-by-play announcer, calling games on-site alongside commentator Nathan Zegura – who made news when he had to serve an eight-game suspension due to arguing with officials during a game in 2018 when he was sideline reporter,[143] and former NFL player and current WKNR host Je'Rod Cherry, who serves as sideline analyst/reporter.[144] Cherry, WKRK's Ken Carman and Andy Baskin, and Cleveland area native/former NFL player Tyvis Powell host the network pregame show, while WKRK's Jeff Phelps and Powell host the network postgame show.

During the preseason, Zegura moves over to TV, Cherry joins Donovan in the booth, and Carman serves as sideline reporter.

Spanish language broadcasts are heard on WNZN 89.1 FM with announcers Rafa Hernández-Brito and Octavio Sequera.[145]

TV

Cleveland ABC affiliate WEWS-TV 5 serves as the broadcast TV home of the Browns, airing year-round team programming as well as all non-network preseason games, with the broadcast team of Chris Rose (play-by-play), Nathan Zegura (analyst), and Aditi Kinkhabwala (sidelines).[146] Bally Sports Great Lakes is the cable outlet for the team, airing various Browns related programming during the season.[147][148]

Honors

The Browns in-house production team won a pair of Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards in 2005. One was for a primetime special honoring the 1964 NFL Championship team (The 1964 Championship Show) and one was for a commercial spot (The Paperboy).[149]

The Browns have (either directly or indirectly) been featured in various movies and TV shows over the years. Notable examples include:

  • Cleveland native Arsenio Hall's television program, The Arsenio Hall Show, is known for the audience's shouting "Woof, woof, woof!" while pumping their fists—a chant that was used by fans of the Browns. He would refer to a section of the live audience as his "Dawg Pound".[150]
  • On Living Single, Overton Wakefield Jones (John Henton) is a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan. On the episode "Living Single Undercover" season 4, episode 20, (aired April 10, 1997), Overton is sore over the Browns moving to Baltimore becoming the Ravens. Henton was born and raised in Cleveland, like his character on the show. Jim Brown guest starred in that episode.[151]
  • On The Drew Carey Show, Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar appears (uncredited) in the episode "Drewstock" (aired January 29, 1997). In the episode "Drew Goes To The Browns Game", (aired September 29, 1999), Drew attends the Browns' first regular-season game since re-joining the NFL. (In real life, Drew Carey actually did appear on-field at the first regular-season game when the team returned in 1999.)
  • Cleveland Brown is the name of a character originally featured on the Fox TV show Family Guy, and the central character of the spin-off series The Cleveland Show.[152]
  • On the TV show How I Met Your Mother, in the seventh-season premiere, the main characters go to a Cleveland Browns-themed wedding.[153]
  • The Browns have been featured on some level in episodes of Hot In Cleveland and even in promotional videos using at least one of the main characters. In the episode "How Did You Guys Meet, Anyway?" (January 4, 2012), the characters reminisce about how they met in the 1980s while waiting in the restroom line at a Cleveland Browns game.[154] In the episode "God and Football" (January 18, 2012), Melanie (Valerie Bertinelli) develops a relationship with the Browns placekicker (played by Dan Cortese). In the episode "The Gateway Friend" (May 2, 2012) Browns wide receiver/return specialist Josh Cribbs appears as himself portraying a karaoke contestant. After Super Bowl XLVI, Betty White appears in a video as Elka wearing a Browns jacket congratulating the New York Giants and hoping that the Browns win it one season.[155] After the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, the four main characters appear in a video welcoming Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel to the Browns.[156]
  • The 1966 film The Fortune Cookie with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau features the Browns and the city of Cleveland throughout the movie and was made with the cooperation of the Browns.[157]
  • The 2008 film The Express: The Ernie Davis Story explains how Ernie Davis is traded to the Browns by the Washington Redskins.[158] Early in the film, Jim Brown is taking photos in his Browns uniform after being drafted by them. Later in the film, it shows Davis struggling with leukemia after being drafted and the Browns hold a special pre-game ceremony for him.
  • In the 2010 film Hot Tub Time Machine, the Browns defeat the Broncos and win the 1986 AFC Championship Game (the game famous for former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway's 98-yard drive). It is explained that the reason why the Browns win this game is due to the butterfly effect.[159][160]
  • In the 2014 film Draft Day, fictional Browns general manager Sonny Weaver, Jr. (Kevin Costner) attempts to land the number one pick in the NFL draft.[161]

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