The Cleveland Browns, based in Cleveland, Ohio is a professional American Football team (gridiron). They compete in the AFC North division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The franchise was named after their co-founder and very first coach, Paul Brown, a man who was of Norwalk, Ohio.
The team has played its home games in the FirstEnergy Stadium, which first opened in 1999. Recently, that stadium was renamed simply to Cleveland Browns Stadium. You have to wonder if the name will change again if they find a new corporate sponsor for the namesake.
The Browns have their training facilities and admin offices in Berea, Ohio. The Cleveland team is known for its club colors of brown, orange, and white and are known as the only team out of all 32 NFL teams that have chosen not to have their logo printed on their helmets.
The Cleveland Browns were originally founded in 1945 by Paul Brown and co-founder Arthur B. McBride as a member of the AAFC – the All-American Football Conference. The team absolutely dominated the league – with a 47-4-3 record in their four seasons there – winning all four AAFC championships.
However, after the AAFC folded at the close of the 1949 season, the Cleveland Browns, along with the original Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49ers joined the NFL. They, the Browns, won the championship in their very first NFL season – and again in 1954, 1955 and 1964. Moreover, in a feat that has never been achieved by any other team in any North American major professional sports, they reached the league championship game in each of their first ten years in the league, winning seven times. Between 1965 and 1995, they also qualified for the NFL playoffs 14 times. However, they failed to win any more championships or Super Bowls in that time.
Art Modell purchased the Browns in 1961 – and in 1995, he announced that he would be moving the team to Baltimore. However, following threats of legal action from the city of Cleveland, a compromise was reached in 1996. This allowed Modell to create the Baltimore Ravens as a new franchise and he kept all of the contracts of the Browns’ personnel. However, the team’s intellectual property, such as logos, team name, training facilities and history would become associated with a new Cleveland franchise.
Although there were plenty of existing teams that considered relocation to Cleveland, in 1998 the NFL confirmed that there would be 31 teams instead of 30 when the Browns resumed play in 1999. However, despite being new, they were not considered an expansion team. They were more regarded as a reinstated team.
All About the Cleveland Browns
Since the Cleveland Browns resumed action in 1999, they have had little success to speak of. They have managed just three winning seasons – in 2002, 2007, and more recently in 2020. They have made two playoff tournaments – in 2002 and 2020 and managed just one playoff win, that coming in 2020. In total, they have won less than a third of their games. And, up until 2017, it was only the second team in the history of the NFL, behind the Detroit Lions in 2008, to have suffered an 0-16 season.
The team also became known for being unstable in terms of leadership, having had 10 head coaches – including two who had been fired after just one season. They have also had more than 32 different quarterback starters since 1999. In their most recent season, they started both Jacobi Brissett and the controversial DeShaun Watson. The Browns had a 17-season playoff drought between 2003 and 2019 – which finally came to an end at the end of the 2020 season.
Although the team has won their league eight times, very few gridiron football fans will remember even the freshest of the championships. They are the buttend of many jokes on the American sports frontier.
The Cleveland Browns Player Personnel
- Owners: Jimmy Haslam and Dee Haslam
- President and part owner: J.W. Johnson
- Head coach: Kevin Stefanski
- General manager: Andrew Berry
- Co defensive coordinator: Joe Woods
The Cleveland Browns Main Rivalries
The Cleveland Browns main rivals in the NFL are:
The Pittsburgh Steelers
The rivalry between the Browns and Steelers is often referred to as the Turnpike Rivalry. The Steelers are considered to be the Browns biggest rival in the NFL. In fact, between 1964 and 1970 the former owner of the Browns, Art Modell, used to schedule the home games between the Browns and Steelers for a Saturday night to add fuel to the fire. Another factor in the rivalry is the proximity of the teams, as well as the number of championships the two teams have won as well as players and personnel that have played for and/or coached both of the teams – as well as plain old bitterness.
The Steelers and Browns have played twice per season since 1950, which makes this the oldest rivalry in the AFC – and the fifth oldest NFL rivalry. The Browns dominated the earlier stages of the rivalry but, in the 1970s the Steelers went up in the rivalry. To date, the Steelers have an 80-62-1 lead on head-to-heads in their series. They have met three times in the playoffs. The Steelers have won two out of three times but the Browns claimed a victory in the 2020/21 NFL playoffs, a victory that was all the more sweeter because it came at Heinz Field. The Browns lost in the divisional round to the KC Chiefs, 22-17. Heading into the 2023/23 season, this was the last playoff game that Cleveland contested.
The Cincinnati Bengals
This rivalry originally came about as a result of personal animosity between Art Modell and Paul Brown. The rivalry – known as the Battle of Ohio, has also been filled by sociocultural differences between Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The two clubs have a shared history and even similar team colours – with the Browns using the exact same shade of orange for the Bengals that he originally used for the Browns (although this has since changed). In fact, Modell even moved the Cleveland Browns to the AFC after the 1970 AFL/NFL merger in order to stoke the rivalry. To date, the Bengals lead the all-time series with 52 wins to 47 losses. As far as parity goes, it is one of the more competitive rivalries historically in the NFL. Both teams are, in fact, noted for long droughts when it comes to success. The teams will meet in Week 1 of the the 2023/24 NFL season, playing in Cleveland on Sunday, September 10th, 2023.
The Baltimore Ravens
This rivalry is rooted in the controversy surrounding the Browns’ relocation drama in 1996. The rivalry was more against Art Modell than the actual team. For the Baltimore team, most see it as simply another divisional game, however, the Cleveland Browns’ fanbase are a little more bitter about Baltimore. Some wonder that if Modell had not moved the Cleveland Browns’ personnel to Baltimore, would Cleveland have won a Super Bowl in 2000 instead of the Ravens? This would have ended a long title drought for the franchise and, in fact, the city of Cleveland as a whole. Cleveland teams rarely win titles with the Cleveland Cavaliers title in 2016 being the only recent exception. To date, the Ravens lead the overall series 35-13 in the regular season. As of yet, the teams have not met in the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns Facts
Everything you need to know about the Cleveland Browns…
Cleveland Browns Nicknames
- The Dawg Pound – the name given to the fans stand on the home ground.
Championships Wins:
In NFL history, the Cleveland Browns have won the league Championship 8 times but never post-merger. They won four Championships as part of the AAFC:
- 1946
- 1947
- 1948
- 1949
Plus a further four NFC Championships (pre-merger)
- 1950
- 1954
- 1955
- 1964
NFL/NFC Conference Championships
In the Cleveland Browns history, they have won the Conference Championships eleven times – three times as part of the NFL American division
- 1950
- 1951
- 1952
and a further eight times as part of the NFL Eastern Conference:
- 1953
- 1954
- 1955
- 1957
- 1964
- 1965
- 1968
- 1969
Division Championships
The Cleveland Browns NFL team has won 12 Division championships – three as part of the AAFC Western division:
- 1946
- 1947
- 1948
Three as a part of the NFL Century division.
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
Plus six as part of the AFL Central division.
- 1971
- 1980
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1989
Playoff Berth Appearances
The Cleveland Browns clinched NFL playoffs spots 29 times – four times as part of the AAFC and 25 times since they were first established as part of the National Football League:
AAFC: 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949
NFL: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2002 and 2020
Cleveland Browns Home Fields
Since they were first created, the Cleveland Browns have had two main home fields:
- The Cleveland Stadium between 1946 and 1995
- The First Energy Stadium from 1999 until present
Cleveland Browns Pro Football Hall of Famers
Here are the players who have spent all or part of their football careers playing for the Cleveland Browns and who have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Players
- No. Player Position Dates Induction
- 60, 14 Otto Graham OB 1946–1955 1965
- – Paul Brown Head Coach 1946–1962 1967
- 76, 36 Marion Motley FB 1946–1953 1968
- 32 Jim Brown FB 1957–1965 1971
- 46, 76 Lou Groza OT 1946–1959
- . K 1961–1967 1974
- 56, 86 Dante Lavelli WR 1946–1956 1975
- 53, 80 Len Ford DE 1950–1957 1976
- 30 Bill Willis T, OG 1946–1953 1977
- — Forrest Gregg Head Coach 1975–1977 1977
- 77 Willie Davis DE 1958–1959 1981
- 83 Doug Atkins DE 1953–1954 1982
- 49 Bobby Mitchell WR, RB, HB 1958–1961 1983
- 42 Paul Warfield WR 1964–1969
- . 1976–1977 1983
- 74 Mike McCormack OT 1954–1962 1984
- 22, 52 Frank Gatski C 1946–1956 1985
- 18 Len Dawson QB 1960–1961 1987
- 65 Chuck Noll RG, LB 1953–1959 1993
- 44 Leroy Kelly RB 1964–1973 1994
- 72 Henry Jordan DT 1957–1958 1995
- 96, 44 Don Shula DB 1951–1952 1997
- 29 Tommy McDonald WR 1968 1998
- 82 Ozzie Newsome TE 1978–1990 1999
- 64 Joe DeLamielleure OG 1980–1984 2003
- 66 Gene Hickerson OG 1958–1960
- . 1962–1973 2007
- 58, 88 Mac Speedie End 1946–1952 2020
- 53 Bill Cowher LB 1980–1982. Coach 1985–1988 2020
Cleveland Browns Most Valuable Player Awards
In the history of the Super Bowl, the Cleveland Browns have had two Super Bowl MVP players – one of whom has won the award three times
- Season Player Position
- 1957 Jim Brown FB
- 1958 Jim Brown FB
- 1965 Jim Browns FB
- 1980 Brian Sipe QB
Cleveland Browns FAQs
Where Do I Bet on the Browns Winning the Super Bowl?
For legal states, there are more NFL sites for betting than ever – however, whether or not you should, based on recent form, is questionable. Sign up with a regulated bookmaker, click on Super Bowl, menu, teams and scroll through for the Browns. As well as you betting on the team reaching or winning the Super Bowl, there will be other options as well, such as Moneyline bets, totals bets, and even single-player playlist playoffs performances.
Before staking your money, read up-to-date location network news, pause and make sure you opt for a value bet. Check out the team’s Instagram, Twitter, Facebook pages, look through NFL news sites like pro football focus and gamepass games insights, and read what the Browns’ beat writer, Mary Kay Cabot, has to say on how the team will perform. Only register with a regulated bookie – and one that offers features such as in-play bets, an audio gallery, promo offers, and great customer service.
Can I Make NFL Fantasy Bets in the US?
In states where betting is legal, yes. Simply look for a regulated fantasy football site and download draft fantasy filter. Look through the list of players and prices and pick your favorite players within your budget. You can then look through the draft fantasy menu games and see whether you can beat other fantasy managers out there.
Can I use the Cleveland Browns in NFL fantasy sports?
Are you getting ready to tackle the ultimate sports challenge with fantasy football? This ever-growing popular pastime has taken the world by storm, and with online platforms, it’s now easier than ever to get involved.
But, and this is important, before you start drafting your dream team, make sure you check your state’s regulations on sports betting and fantasy sports. Legalities have to come first! If you are banking on Cleveland in 2023/24, then you are banking on QB DeShaun Watson turning the page on a troubled recent past.
If you want to keep your cash and data protected, you better stick with authorized fantasy football sites. There are a lot of things to consider when picking your team, such as the athlete’s past performance, injury record, and team dynamics. Some fantasy football platforms even offer real-time score updates and the option to swap players with other managers. So, buckle up and start thinking strategically! With some careful planning and a bit of good fortune, fantasy football can be the most thrilling way to experience the football season.
Who Were the Browns Free Agency Players in 2021?
In 2021, the Browns signed free agents: John Johnson, KhaDarel Hodge, Takk McKinley, Malcolm Smith, Troy Hill, Malik Jackson, Greg Senat and Anthony Walker.
