query: Who was the first coach of the Cleveland Browns?

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: History of the Cleveland Browns The history of the Cleveland Browns American football team began in 1944 when taxi-cab magnate Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride secured a Cleveland, Ohio franchise in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Paul Brown, who coach Bill Walsh once called the "father of modern football", was the team's namesake and first coach. From the beginning of play in 1946 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the Browns were a great success. Cleveland won each of the AAFC's four championship games before the league dissolved in 1949. The team then moved to the more established National Football League

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: as head coach. After interviewing numerous candidates such as Chip Kelly and Ken Whisenhunt, the Browns decided to hire former offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, Rob Chudzinski, on January 10, 2013. On January 15, 2013, Joe Banner announced the naming rights to Cleveland Browns Stadium were sold to FirstEnergy, and the stadium would be renamed FirstEnergy Stadium. The name change officially received Cleveland City Council approval on February 15, 2013. On January 18, 2013, the Browns hired Michael Lombardi – who had a previous stint with the Browns in the player personnel department in the '80s and '90s –

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: and, a day later, Crennel. Cleveland pursued former Steelers coach and Browns linebacker Bill Cowher and former Browns scout Scott Pioli for the head coaching job. The team, however, hired former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini in January 2009. Before the start of the season, Mangini and the front office traded Winslow to the Buccaneers after five seasons marked by injuries and a motorcycle crash that threatened to end the tight end's career. The Browns showed little sign of improvement in Mangini's first year, finishing 5–11 in 2009. While Cleveland lost 11 of its first 12 games, the team

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: game was a highlight in an otherwise unsuccessful season. The Browns lost their second match against the Bengals 14–10 in November, when Phipps made his first start — Brown called it "my greatest victory" — and finished 7–7. Plagued by hearing problems, the 64-year-old Collier announced his retirement before the end of the 1970 season. In eight years as coach, Collier led Cleveland to a championship and a 74–33–2 record. Nick Skorich was named as his replacement the following year. Skorich came to the Browns as offensive coordinator in 1964, when the team won the championship. In Cleveland's first year

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: impressive record as coach of a Massillon, Ohio high school team and brought the Buckeyes their first national championship, at the time was serving in the U.S. Navy and coached the football team at Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago. The name of the team was at first left up to Brown, who rejected calls for it to be christened the Browns. McBride then held a contest to name the team in May 1945; "Cleveland Panthers" was the most popular choice, but Brown rejected it because it was the name of an earlier failed football team. "That old Panthers team

title: 1970 Cleveland Browns season

text: 31–21 at Cleveland Stadium in the opener in the first Monday Night Football game in history, and, three games later, edged Cincinnati 30–27 in Bengals head coach Paul Brown's first official visit to Cleveland since being fired by the Browns eight years before. The following were selected in the 1970 NFL Draft. There was a doubleheader on September 5, 1970 Cardinals vs Chargers and Vikings vs Browns. In the first regular-season matchup between Paul Brown's old team and his new one, the Browns beat the Bengals. It's an important win for the Browns, who we're chastised for losing a preseason

title: 1989 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1989 Cleveland Browns season The 1989 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 40th season with the National Football League. It was the Browns' first season with head coach Bud Carson, who had been the defensive coordinator of the New York Jets the previous season. The Browns reached their third AFC Championship Game in four seasons, and for the third time lost to the Denver Broncos. It would be the Browns's fifth consecutive season making the playoffs, but it would be their last playoff season until 1994. Bud Carson begins his Browns head coaching career with a memorable 51-0 victory over

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: season, this marked an 11-game losing streak, tied for the longest in team history with the 1974–1975 teams. On October 12, the Browns defeated the Bengals 34–24 in Cleveland, behind two touchdown passes from rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden (on his 29th birthday) to end the streak. On December 31, 2012, head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert were fired. Shurmur went 9–23 in his two seasons as head coach. After interviewing numerous candidates such as Chip Kelly and Ken Whisenhunt, the Browns decided to hire former offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, Rob Chudzinski, on January 10, 2013.

title: 2007 Cleveland Browns season

text: AFC North division games, the Browns played against the AFC East and NFC West according to the NFL's conference rotation, and played the Raiders and Texans based on 2006 standings in their respective AFC divisions. The Cleveland Browns opened the regular season at home in Cleveland Browns Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who entered the game under the direction of the team's new head coach, Mike Tomlin. However, the Browns' ended the day with a 34–7 loss to the Steelers. A number of Browns errors gave Pittsburgh opportunities to take a first quarter lead. After being stopped on their first

title: 1989 Cleveland Browns season

text: drought without a division title is the longest active drought in the NFL. 1989 Cleveland Browns season The 1989 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 40th season with the National Football League. It was the Browns' first season with head coach Bud Carson, who had been the defensive coordinator of the New York Jets the previous season. The Browns reached their third AFC Championship Game in four seasons, and for the third time lost to the Denver Broncos. It would be the Browns's fifth consecutive season making the playoffs, but it would be their last playoff season until 1994. Bud

title: 1975 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1975 Cleveland Browns season The 1975 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 26th season with the National Football League. The Browns lost their first nine games—again, a team record—en route to going 3–11 in Forrest Gregg's first year as head coach after having been promoted from offensive line coach following the offseason firing of Nick Skorich. Making matters even harder to swallow was that, save for a 16–15 decision at Denver in Week 5 and a 24–17 decision at Cincinnati in the season opener, the losses were pretty much one-sided. At home no less, the Browns fell 42–10 to the

title: 2014 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2014 Cleveland Browns season The 2014 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 66th season as a professional sports franchise and its 62nd as a member of the National Football League. It was the first under new head coach Mike Pettine, as former head coach Rob Chudzinski was fired after a 4–12 campaign, as well as the first under new general manager Ray Farmer. The Browns improved upon their overall record, going 7–9 and securing their first season without double digit losses since 2007. However, they failed to make the playoffs for the twelfth consecutive year, the longest postseason drought in

title: 2010 Cleveland Browns season

text: first season under the leadership of team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. It also marked the second season under head coach Eric Mangini. The Browns played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. On December 21, 2009, the Browns hired Mike Holmgren, former Green Bay Packers head coach and Seattle Seahawks head coach and general manager, to take over as the team president. His duties will include personnel management and oversight over all operations. Although many believed that the institution of Holmgren as president would lead to the firing of Browns' head

title: 2009 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2009 Cleveland Browns season The 2009 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 61st season as a professional sports franchise and its 57th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The team placed fourth in the AFC North with a record of 5–11, improving upon its 2008 record of 4–12. This season marked George Kokinis and Eric Mangini's first seasons as the team's general manager and head coach, respectively; however, Kokinis was fired on November 2 during the team's Week 9 bye week. The Browns played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

title: 1995 Cleveland Browns season

text: tax dollars to refurbish the outmoded and declining Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Modell's plan was later scrapped and taxpayers ultimately paid close to $300 million to demolish the old stadium and construct a new stadium for the 1999 Expansion Browns on the site of Municipal Stadium. 1995 Cleveland Browns season The 1995 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 50th season overall and 46th in the National Football League. After finishing 11–5 in 1994 under head coach Bill Belichick and winning a playoff game for the first time since 1989, the Browns were favored by many to reach Cleveland's first ever Super

title: 1994 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1994 Cleveland Browns season The 1994 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 45th season with the National Football League. It was the only season that the Browns qualified for the playoffs under head coach Bill Belichick. The Browns finished as the NFL's number one defense in terms of points surrendered per game (12.8 points per game). In the playoffs, Belichick got his first playoff victory as a head coach in the AFC Wild Card Game against his eventual current team, the New England Patriots. Both Vinny Testaverde and falling third-year Bengal David Klingler were picked off twice. Testaverde got the

title: 1946 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1946 Cleveland Browns season The 1946 Cleveland Browns season was the team's first in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The Browns, coached by Paul Brown, ended the year with a record of 12–2, winning the AAFC's Western Division. Led by quarterback Otto Graham, fullback Marion Motley and ends Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie, the team won the first AAFC championship game against the New York Yankees. The Browns were founded by Arthur B. McBride, a Cleveland taxi-cab tycoon, as a charter franchise in the new AAFC. McBride in 1945 hired Brown, a successful coach at the high school and college

title: 1995 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1995 Cleveland Browns season The 1995 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 50th season overall and 46th in the National Football League. After finishing 11–5 in 1994 under head coach Bill Belichick and winning a playoff game for the first time since 1989, the Browns were favored by many to reach Cleveland's first ever Super Bowl. The Browns started by winning three of their first four games, but lost three straight in the middle of the season and finished the first half of the season at 4–4. The day after the Browns recorded their fifth loss, a 10–37 blowout to

title: 2010 Cleveland Browns season

text: extra point kicked by wide receiver Wes Welker), yet the Browns pulled away with Hillis' 35-yard touchdown run. With the win, Cleveland improved to 3–5. Hillis was named as the AFC offensive player of the week. First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Coming off their win over the Patriots, the Browns stayed at home for a Week 10 duel with the New York Jets, in a game that marked head coach Eric Mangini coaching against his former team, former Browns WR Braylon Edwards making his first return to Cleveland since being traded, and Jets' head coach Rex Ryan

title: 1990 Cleveland Browns season

text: differential is the third-worst total of any team in the '90s, even worse than the 1999 Browns expansion team. 1990 Cleveland Browns season The 1990 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 41st season with the National Football League. The season was the second for head coach Bud Carson, but the Browns started the season 2–7. Carson was fired one day after a Week Nine shutout loss to the eventual AFC Champion Buffalo Bills. He was replaced by former Browns quarterback Jim Shofner, who finished the season with only one additional win. The move didn't help as the Browns finished 3-13.

title: 1990 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1990 Cleveland Browns season The 1990 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 41st season with the National Football League. The season was the second for head coach Bud Carson, but the Browns started the season 2–7. Carson was fired one day after a Week Nine shutout loss to the eventual AFC Champion Buffalo Bills. He was replaced by former Browns quarterback Jim Shofner, who finished the season with only one additional win. The move didn't help as the Browns finished 3-13. The 1990 Browns surrendered 462 points, the most points of any NFL team in the 1990s. Their −234 point

title: 2011 Cleveland Browns season

text: played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. On January 3, 2011, one day after the 2010 season, the Browns fired head coach Eric Mangini. In two seasons with the Browns, Mangini had a record of 10–22 and a disappointing 2–10 record against division opponents. On January 13, the team hired former St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to replace Mangini as head coach. Shurmur served as the Rams' offensive coordinator from 2009–2010, and was an offensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999–2008. This is his first opportunity as an NFL head coach.

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Chris Palmer in January 1999 as the reactivated team's first head coach. The NFL then conducted an expansion draft the following month to stock the new Browns team with players. The team added to its roster through free agency, and was also given the first pick in the draft in April 1999, which it used to draft quarterback Tim Couch. Construction on the new stadium finished on time in August 1999, paving the way for Cleveland to host a football game for the first time in more than three years. During the years after Modell's move

title: 1978 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1978 Cleveland Browns season The 1978 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 29th season with the National Football League (NFL). After nearly three years of struggling offensively – and not making the playoffs—while posting just one winning record under ultra-strict, disciplinarian head coach Forrest Gregg, the Browns in 1978 decided to take a softer approach to liven up their attack – and their team. They did so by hiring a virtually unknown assistant at the time, New Orleans Saints receivers coach Sam Rutigliano, to replace Gregg, who was fired with one game left in the 1977 season. Rutigliano was the

title: 2008 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2008 Cleveland Browns season The 2008 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 60th season as a professional sports franchise and its 56th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Browns finished with a 4–12 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs. The season marked Romeo Crennel's fourth (and what would be final) year as head coach of the Browns. Cleveland played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. In the 2008 season, the Browns failed to score a touchdown for 24 consecutive quarters. Also from 2008 to present, the Browns

title: 1962 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1962 Cleveland Browns season The 1962 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 13th season with the National Football League. The Browns gave a record opening-day crowd of 81,115 at Cleveland Stadium something to remember in a 17-7 victory over the Giants. The game's most memorable play is a flea-flicker that set up a 29-yard Lou Groza field goal. Quarterback Jim Ninowski hands the ball to Jim Brown, who hands to receiver Ray Renfro, who hands the ball back to Ninowski, who completes a 53-yard pass to Rich Kreitling. Bobby Mitchell, traded by coach Paul Brown to Washington during the offseason,

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: was director of player personnel for the Baltimore Ravens for two years, had a hand in drafting Ed Reed, Jamal Lewis, Ray Lewis and other stars for the Ravens. A month later, Cleveland brought in Romeo Crennel as the head coach, signing him to a five-year deal worth $11 million. Crennel was the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, who had just won the Super Bowl. His style was described as "quiet, reserved and gentlemanly", but he said he wanted to stock the team with tough, physical players. Before the start of training camp, the Browns acquired veteran quarterback

title: 2009 Cleveland Browns season

text: The Browns missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season, tying a record set between 1973–79. On December 29, 2008, the Cleveland Browns announced that the team had fired general manager Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel after spending four seasons together in Cleveland. Crennel, who joined the Browns with Savage in 2005, left Cleveland with a record of 24–40 (.375) and an 0–8 record against the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The team's best record under Crennel was 10–6 during the 2007 season. On January 7, 2009, the Browns announced that the team had found its replacement for Crennel

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: Gregg to resign. Modell said he would look outside the Browns organization for a new coach, a break from past hirings that drew from the team's own ranks. Peter Hadhazy, who Modell had hired as the Browns' first general manager, recommended a 45-year-old New Orleans Saints receivers coach named Sam Rutigliano. After an interview before Christmas in which Modell and Rutigliano spent hours talking and watching game film in Modell's basement, the owner named him head coach on December 27, 1977. An affable, charismatic man with an even temper, Rutigliano was a stark contrast to Gregg. Sipe immediately flourished under

title: Cleveland Browns

text: 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. 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

title: 1985 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1985 Cleveland Browns season The 1985 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 36th season with the National Football League. In Marty Schottenheimer's first full year as head coach, the Browns bounced back from a horrible 5–11 season in 1984 to make the playoffs, despite a .500 season. Rookie quarterback Bernie Kosar led the Browns' offense; Ozzie Newsome's 62 receptions earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl; Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack each rushed for over 1,000 yards. In the Divisional Playoffs, the Browns led the Miami Dolphins 21–3 in the third quarter, but in a scene that would be

title: 2018 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2018 Cleveland Browns season The 2018 season is the Cleveland Browns' 70th season as a professional sports franchise, their 66th season as a member of the NFL, and their first full season under general manager John Dorsey. It was their third and final season under head coach Hue Jackson. The Browns improved upon their 2017 campaign in which they went a franchise worst 0–16. They will also look to end their franchise-record and league-high 15-year playoff drought and enter the postseason for the first time since 2002. On September 9, the Browns opened their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers with

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: losing streak in Cleveland's history. Gregg's first win did not come until November 23 against Paul Brown's Cincinnati Bengals, and Cleveland finished with a 3–11 record. The team improved the following year, ending with a 9–5 record but missing the playoffs. The highlight of that season was an 18–16 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 10. Kicker Don Cockroft booted four field goals, while defensive end Joe "Turkey" Jones' pile-driving sack of quarterback Terry Bradshaw added fuel to the heated rivalry between the teams. While Gregg won the NFL's Coach of the Year award for turning the Browns around

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: in March 1961 for $3.925 million. Bob Gries, who had a share in the Browns from the beginning, agreed to buy in again at the new valuation and take a stake of almost 40%, defraying Modell's costs substantially. As the previous owners did when they took over, Modell quickly assured Cleveland fans that Brown would "have a free hand" in running the organization and awarded him a new eight-year contract. "As far as I'm concerned Paul Brown can send [plays] in by carrier pigeon", Modell said. "In my opinion he has no peer as a football coach. His record speaks

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: that all crumbled in 1990. Kosar threw more interceptions than touchdowns for the first time in his career, and the defense allowed more points than any other in the league. The Browns' 2–7 start cost Carson his job. Jim Shofner was named interim head coach, and the team finished 3–13. After the season Bill Belichick, the defensive coordinator of the then-Super Bowl champion New York Giants, was named head coach. Belichick, who came to the Browns after 12 years mostly with the Giants under Bill Parcells, quickly made his mark by restricting media access to the team. He acted gruff

title: 2008 Cleveland Browns season

text: goal. The Browns pulled away in the fourth quarter with a touchdown pass from Anderson to WR Braylon Edwards, as well as an Eric Wright interception returned for a touchdown. With the impressive win, Cleveland improved to 2–3. This was also the Browns' first win on Monday Night Football since 1993. First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter After the Browns' victory over the Giants, head coach Romeo Crennel received NFL Coach of the Week honors for Week 6. Coming off their impressive Monday Night home win over the Giants, the Browns flew to Fedex Field for a Week

title: 1947 Cleveland Browns season

text: score, once reaching the Browns' four-yard line, but the Cleveland defense held. The victory made the Browns the only undefeated team in the AAFC after the San Francisco 49ers lost to the New York Yankees Cleveland beat the Chicago Rockets 41–21 at Chicago's Soldier Field to extend the team's winning streak to four games. The Browns scored a touchdown in the first quarter and two more in the second. The team led 27–0 at the half. Chicago, however, started to come back in the third quarter after Cleveland coach Paul Brown took out most of his first-string players. Graham, Colella,

title: 2007 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2007 Cleveland Browns season The 2007 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 59th season as a professional sports franchise and its 55th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The season began with the Browns attempting to improve upon their 4–12 record from the 2006 season, in which the team finished in fourth place in the AFC North. The Browns also attempted to overcome the many injuries that plagued the team throughout the 2006 season. The Browns remained under the supervision of head coach Romeo Crennel and they played all of their home games in Cleveland Browns

title: 2012 Cleveland Browns season

text: coach Pat Shurmur. The Browns also had Jimmy Haslam as their new owner, after buying the team from Randy Lerner. The Browns played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. On August 2, team owner Randy Lerner sold the controlling interest of the Browns to Tennessee businessman Jimmy Haslam. Haslam is the owner of Pilot Flying J travel centers and was previously a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The amount of the sale was in excess of US $1 billion. The sale was approved on October 25, 2012. On January 11, defensive backs coach

title: 2004 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2004 Cleveland Browns season The 2004 Cleveland Browns season was the team’s 56th season and 52nd with the National Football League. The Browns were looking to improve on their 5–11 record from 2003 and return to their 2002 playoff position; however, hindered by a tough schedule they regressed further and only won four games. On November 30, Butch Davis resigned as Head Coach and General Manager of the team. He was succeeded by offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie. Robiskie promoted tight end coach Rob Chudzinski to offensive coordinator. Football statistics site "Football Outsiders" calculated that the 2004 Browns played the toughest

title: 2018 Cleveland Browns season

text: first alternate, RB Nick Chubb and P Britton Colquitt second alternates, WR Jarvis Landry a third alternate, and QB Baker Mayfield and G Kevin Zeitler were named fourth alternates at their respective positions. 2018 Cleveland Browns season The 2018 season is the Cleveland Browns' 70th season as a professional sports franchise, their 66th season as a member of the NFL, and their first full season under general manager John Dorsey. It was their third and final season under head coach Hue Jackson. The Browns improved upon their 2017 campaign in which they went a franchise worst 0–16. They will also

title: 2011 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2011 Cleveland Browns season The 2011 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and its 59th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The team had hoped to improve on its 2010 season, where it finished with a record of 5–11 and placed third in the AFC North, however, the team was eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14. This season marked the second season under the leadership of team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert, as well as the first season under head coach Pat Shurmur. The Browns

title: 1985 Cleveland Browns season

text: 28–7 lead, and the defense withstood a Warren Moon comeback. Until 2011, Cleveland's .500 winning percentage held the record for the lowest such percentage for a division winning playoff team in a non-strike season; the record was tied by the 2008 San Diego Chargers, then broken by the 2010 Seattle Seahawks. (Incidentally, in 1985 and 2008, teams with 11–5 records – Denver in 1985, New England in 2008—missed the playoffs.) 1985 Cleveland Browns season The 1985 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 36th season with the National Football League. In Marty Schottenheimer's first full year as head coach, the Browns

title: 2016 Cleveland Browns season

text: the NFL and secured the #1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. This marked the beginning of a 17 game losing streak continuing through the 2017 season and ending with a tie in Week 1 of the 2018 season. 2016 Cleveland Browns season The 2016 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 68th season as a professional sports franchise, its 64th as a member of the National Football League and its first under head coach Hue Jackson and "de facto" general manager Sashi Brown. The Browns failed to improve upon their 3–13 record from their previous season, finishing 1–15, their

title: 1977 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1977 Cleveland Browns season The 1977 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 28th season with the National Football League. After a 6-4 start, the Browns lost their final four games of the season, to finish with a disappointing 6-8 record. With one game left in the season, head coach Forrest Gregg was fired and replaced by Dick Modzelewski. The following were selected in the 1977 NFL Draft. The 1977 season started with a league rival and an impressive win. The Cleveland Browns had not hosted nor been in a Monday Night Football game since the 1973 season, when they lost

title: 1977 Cleveland Browns season

text: yards and tight end Gary Parris catches two touchdown passes. 1977 Cleveland Browns season The 1977 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 28th season with the National Football League. After a 6-4 start, the Browns lost their final four games of the season, to finish with a disappointing 6-8 record. With one game left in the season, head coach Forrest Gregg was fired and replaced by Dick Modzelewski. The following were selected in the 1977 NFL Draft. The 1977 season started with a league rival and an impressive win. The Cleveland Browns had not hosted nor been in a Monday

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: in the first season under the new regime, finishing last in the AFC North Division, and losing seven in a row to finish the 2013 campaign. Following the 2013 season finale on December 29, 2013, the Browns fired Chudzinski after only one year as head coach. On January 24, 2014, the Browns hired Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine as the 15th full-time head coach in team history. On February 11, 2014 the Browns announced that Lombardi would be replaced by Ray Farmer as general manager, and that Joe Banner would resign as CEO. In the first round of the 2014

title: 2016 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2016 Cleveland Browns season The 2016 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 68th season as a professional sports franchise, its 64th as a member of the National Football League and its first under head coach Hue Jackson and "de facto" general manager Sashi Brown. The Browns failed to improve upon their 3–13 record from their previous season, finishing 1–15, their worst record in franchise history at the time. They started the season 0–14, tied for their worst 14-game start in franchise history, and in so doing, clinched a losing record for a franchise record ninth straight season, failed to make

title: 1988 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1988 Cleveland Browns season The 1988 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 39th season with the National Football League. Despite taking the Browns to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, head coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired at the end of the 1988 season. He left the Browns having compiled a record of 44–27 (a 62% winning percentage) with the team. Schottenheimer would once again go through the same scenario with the Chargers, as in 2006, he was fired by them after the Chargers posted the best record in the NFL. The Browns finished the season with a 10-6 record,

title: 2017 Cleveland Browns season

text: parade organization raised over $17,000 of charitable donations which went to the Cleveland Food Bank. 2017 Cleveland Browns season The 2017 season was the Cleveland Browns' 69th as a professional sports franchise, their 65th season as a member of the National Football League, their second under head coach Hue Jackson and their second and final season under GM Sashi Brown. The Browns failed to improve upon their 1–15 record from the previous season, losing all sixteen games in 2017 and continuing a losing streak dating to the final game of the previous season. They became the second team in NFL

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: team Paul Brown founded in 1968 in the AFL. Cleveland's first big move under the new league structure was to trade star receiver Paul Warfield in January 1970 to the Miami Dolphins for the rights to draft Purdue University quarterback Mike Phipps as a replacement for Bill Nelsen, who had a pair of bad knees. The Browns opened the 1970 season by beating Joe Namath and the New York Jets in the first-ever broadcast of Monday Night Football on September 21. The following month, Cleveland faced Paul Brown's Bengals for the first time in a regular-season game, winning 30–27. That

title: 1993 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1993 Cleveland Browns season The 1993 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 44th season with the National Football League. This season was notable for coach Bill Belichick deciding to bench, and then ultimately release, longtime starting quarterback Bernie Kosar in favor of Vinny Testaverde. Kosar resurfaced during the season with the Dallas Cowboys, when he was part of the eventual Super Bowl champions as a fill-in for injured quarterback Troy Aikman. The Browns get off to a 5-2 start despite the Quarterback Controversy. Prior to the start of the season the Browns signed Free Agent Quarterback Vinny Testaverde. Originally Testaverde

title: 1988 Cleveland Browns season

text: a 2-yard touchdown reception to close out the scoring. 1988 Cleveland Browns season The 1988 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 39th season with the National Football League. Despite taking the Browns to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, head coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired at the end of the 1988 season. He left the Browns having compiled a record of 44–27 (a 62% winning percentage) with the team. Schottenheimer would once again go through the same scenario with the Chargers, as in 2006, he was fired by them after the Chargers posted the best record in the NFL.

title: 1946 Cleveland Browns season

text: succeeded Brown in 1963 as the team's head coach. Fritz Heisler was brought in as a guard coach and stayed with the Browns until the 1970s. The Browns' first and only preseason game took place at the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio, against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Cleveland won the game 35–20. Brooklyn opened the scoring with a touchdown in the first quarter and another on the first play of the second quarter. Both touchdowns followed interceptions thrown by Otto Graham. Substituting for Graham, Cliff Lewis threw a short touchdown pass to Fred Evans near the end of the second quarter

title: 1959 Cleveland Browns season

text: for 14 TDs with just six interceptions. However, the Browns would finish just 7–5 in 1959, the second in what would turn out to be a string of six straight seasons in which the Browns had decent to very good teams without qualifying for the postseason. The 7–5 record was also the second worst record since head coach Paul Brown's tenure with the team. 1959 Cleveland Browns season The 1959 Cleveland Browns season was the team's tenth season with the National Football League. Future Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown rushed for 1,329 yards, leading the league for the

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: other front-office executives also stepped down, including chief contract negotiator Lal Heneghan and lead spokesman Todd Stewart. The 2004 season was little better, and Davis resigned in November with the team at 3–8. Lerner had given him a contract extension through 2007 that January, but Davis said "intense pressure and scrutiny" made the move necessary. Offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie was named head coach for the remainder of the season, which the Browns finished 4–12. On January 6, 2005, while the Browns were still searching for a new head coach, the team announced Phil Savage's appointment as general manager. Savage, who

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: the head coach of the University of Miami's football team. After rejecting an initial offer in December, Davis accepted the job the following month. Davis had turned around Miami's football program and put the team back in championship contention; Policy and Lerner hoped he could do the same in Cleveland. The Browns improved under Davis, and contended for a spot in the 2001 playoffs until a loss in the 15th week against Jacksonville that featured one of the most controversial calls in team history. As time expired in the fourth quarter with the Jaguars ahead 15–10, Couch led a drive

title: 1980 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1980 Cleveland Browns season The 1980 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 35th overall, and 31st season in the National Football League. The Browns finished the regular season with eleven wins and five losses, and their first division title in since 1971, winning a tiebreaker with the Houston Oilers. The 1980 Cleveland Browns were known as the Kardiac Kids for having several games decided in the final moments. The 1980 season was the first time that Cleveland had qualified for the postseason since 1972. Also, for the second straight year, Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano was named NFL Coach of

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: floundered. The Steelers shut out the Browns 43–0 in the season opener at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 12, 1999, the first of seven straight losses. A 2–14 season in 1999 was followed by a 3–13 record in 2000 after Couch suffered a season-ending thumb injury. Early in 2001, Policy and Lerner fired Palmer. The coach and the team, Policy said, were not headed in the right direction. Mike McCarthy, New Orleans' offensive coordinator, Herman Edwards, a Tampa Bay assistant coach, and Marvin Lewis, Baltimore's defensive coordinator, were mentioned as possible replacements for Palmer. Policy also met with Butch Davis,

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: racking up 10,085 passing yards. Motley, who Brown in 1948 called "the greatest fullback that ever lived", was the AAFC's all-time leading rusher. Brown and six players from the Browns' AAFC years were later elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Graham, Motley, Groza, Lavelli, Willis and Gatski. The Cleveland area showered support on the Browns from the outset. Meanwhile, the Browns unexpectedly had Cleveland to themselves; the NFL's Cleveland Rams, who had continually lost money despite winning the 1945 NFL championship, moved to Los Angeles after that season. The Browns' on-field feats only amplified their popularity, and the

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: day of the 2018 NFL season, the Browns tied the Pittsburgh Steelers with 21 points after neither team scored in overtime, ending the Browns losing streak at 17 games. However, their winless streak extended to 18 games. On September 20, the Browns defeated the Jets, 21-17 to win their first game since week 16 of the 2016 season, ending their winless streak at 19 games, which was the 4th longest in NFL history. History of the Cleveland Browns The history of the Cleveland Browns American football team began in 1944 when taxi-cab magnate Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride secured a Cleveland,

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: shot to win the game. Sipe and the offense took over at the Browns' 15-yard line. In eight plays, Cleveland drove down to Oakland's 14, leaving 56 seconds on the clock. After a one-yard Mike Pruitt run, Rutigliano called a timeout. A short field goal would have been the safe bet — that was all Cleveland needed to win. Rutigliano, ever the risk-taker, decided to go for a touchdown. The coach was reluctant to stake the game's outcome on the usually sure-footed Cockroft, who had missed two field goals and an extra point earlier in the game. The play he

title: 1980 Cleveland Browns season

text: as one of the franchises sadder moments. 1980 Cleveland Browns season The 1980 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 35th overall, and 31st season in the National Football League. The Browns finished the regular season with eleven wins and five losses, and their first division title in since 1971, winning a tiebreaker with the Houston Oilers. The 1980 Cleveland Browns were known as the Kardiac Kids for having several games decided in the final moments. The 1980 season was the first time that Cleveland had qualified for the postseason since 1972. Also, for the second straight year, Browns head coach

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: 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, who the Browns drafted in 1985, led the team to three AFC Championship games in the late 1980s but lost each time. In 1995, Modell announced he was relocating the Browns to Baltimore, sowing a mix of outrage and bitterness among Cleveland's dedicated fan base. Negotiations and legal battles led to an agreement where Modell was allowed to move the team, but Cleveland kept the Browns' name, colors and history. After three

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: On January 15, 2013, Haslam and Banner announced the naming rights to Cleveland Browns Stadium were sold to FirstEnergy, and the stadium would be renamed FirstEnergy Stadium. The name change officially received Cleveland City Council approval on February 15, 2013. On January 18, 2013, the Browns hired Michael Lombardi – who had a previous stint with the Browns in the player personnel department in the 1980s and 90s – as Vice President of Player Personnel (two months later he was officially given the title of general manager), making him Tom Heckert's replacement. The Browns would finish with a 4-12 record

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: four in the AAFC and three in the NFL. Rams fans gave Graham a standing ovation when Brown pulled him from the game in the final minutes. Without Graham, the Browns floundered in 1956. Injuries to two Browns quarterbacks left the relatively unknown Tommy O'Connell as the starter, and Cleveland finished with a 5–7 record, its first losing season. Dante Lavelli and Frank Gatski retired at the end of the season, leaving Groza as the only original Browns player still on the team. While the Browns' on-field play in 1956 was uninspiring, off-the-field drama developed after a Cleveland-based inventor let

title: 2013 Cleveland Browns season

text: 2013 Cleveland Browns season The 2013 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 65th season as a professional sports franchise and its 61st season as a member of the National Football League. They failed to improve on their 5–11 record from 2012, finishing the year at 4-12 their sixth consecutive 11+ loss season. They also extended their franchise record playoff drought to 11 years. This was the first season under head coach Rob Chudzinski (who was later fired after the season) and new general manager Michael Lombardi (who was later fired in February 2014). This also marked the first full season

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: Rutigliano, racking up 21 touchdowns and 2,906 passing yards during the 1978 season, when the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule. His prime targets were Reggie Rucker, a veteran receiver the Browns signed in 1975, and Ozzie Newsome, a rookie tight end out of Alabama who the Browns drafted with a pick acquired in the Phipps trade. Cleveland won its first three games, but poor defense dashed the team's playoff chances and the Browns finished with an 8–8 record. Rutigliano was a gambler: he tinkered with offenses, took chances on trick plays and was not afraid to break with the

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: had to reverse the Browns' purchase of Stadium Corp. and pay $1 million in Gries's legal fees. This left Modell in need of financial help, and it came in the form of Al Lerner, a banking and real estate executive who bought half of Stadium Corp. and 5% of the Browns in 1986. His reputation damaged by the lawsuits, Modell was eager to get out of Cleveland. He met with Baltimore officials about selling the Browns to Lerner and buying an expansion team to replace the Colts, who had left for Indianapolis in 1984. He also discussed moving the Browns.

title: 1950 Cleveland Browns season

text: ensuing possession, Carpenter took a handoff from Cliff Lewis, who was substituting for Graham, and ran it 61 yards for another touchdown. Cleveland lost its first game of the season and was shut out for the first time in 62 games against the Giants in Cleveland. Unlike the Eagles, the Giants prepared carefully for the Browns and were able to stop the team's potent passing attack. After the Browns beat Philadelphia, Giants coach Steve Owen scouted the team and resolved to use an innovative umbrella defense, a formation where the defensive ends were used to cover passes. This freed the

title: 1954 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1954 Cleveland Browns season The 1954 Cleveland Browns season was the team's fifth season with the National Football League. The Browns' defense became the first defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest rushing yards allowed, fewest passing yards allowed and fewest total yards allowed. Assistant coach Weeb Ewbank left the club to coach the Baltimore Colts. Defensive Back Don Paul arrived via a trade with the Washington Redskins. The Redskins acquired Paul from the Chicago Cardinals. Upon his arrival in Washington, he fell in disfavour with George Preston Marshall of the Redskins. The 1954

title: 1954 Cleveland Browns season

text: two NFL games in his career. 1954 Cleveland Browns season The 1954 Cleveland Browns season was the team's fifth season with the National Football League. The Browns' defense became the first defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest rushing yards allowed, fewest passing yards allowed and fewest total yards allowed. Assistant coach Weeb Ewbank left the club to coach the Baltimore Colts. Defensive Back Don Paul arrived via a trade with the Washington Redskins. The Redskins acquired Paul from the Chicago Cardinals. Upon his arrival in Washington, he fell in disfavour with George Preston

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: Kosar's aerial attack with more than 1,000 yards rushing each. While not stellar, the Browns' record won first place in a weak AFC Central, and the team looked poised to shock the heavily favored Miami Dolphins in a divisional playoff game on January 4, 1986. Cleveland surged to a 21–3 halftime lead, and it took a spirited second-half comeback by Dan Marino and the Dolphins to win it 24–21 and end the Browns' season. Despite the loss, many people expected Cleveland to be back the following year. "The Browns' days, the good days, are here and ahead of us", radio

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: the Browns moved up in the draft to acquire Eric Metcalf. Kevin Mack, meanwhile, was suspended for the first four games of the 1989 season after pleading guilty to cocaine possession. Despite these changes, Kosar led Cleveland to a division-winning 9–6–1 record in 1989, including a season-opening 51–0 shutout of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers and the team's first victory over the Denver Broncos in 15 years. Cleveland narrowly survived a scare from the Buffalo Bills in the first playoff game, staving off a comeback thanks to an interception in the Browns' end zone by Clay Matthews with 14 seconds on

title: 1971 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1971 Cleveland Browns season The 1971 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 22nd season with the National Football League. After missing the playoffs the previous year, the Browns got off to a good start at 4–1 only to stumble losing 4 straight to fall to 4–5. However, the Browns would rebound to win the final 5 games of the season for the AFC Central Division title. Just as the 1967 Browns returned to the playoffs following a one-year absence, so, too, did the '71 club, which was in its first season under new head coach Nick Skorich after Blanton Collier's

title: 2014 Cleveland Browns season

text: January 28, Joe Haden was named a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics. He’s the first American professional football player to ever hold the title, joining celebrity athletes gymnast Nadia Comaneci, figure skater Scott Hamilton, golfer Padraig Harrington, NBA stars Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo, speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, and swimmer Michael Phelps. 2014 Cleveland Browns season The 2014 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 66th season as a professional sports franchise and its 62nd as a member of the National Football League. It was the first under new head coach Mike Pettine, as former head coach Rob Chudzinski

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: Drive had a year before. The 1988 season was marred by injuries to the Browns' quarterbacks. Kosar was injured in the opener against Kansas City Chiefs and two backups were subsequently injured, leaving Don Strock, who the Browns signed as an emergency fill-in, to start before Kosar's return. Kosar came back but was hurt again at the end of the regular season. Despite the rotating cast of quarterbacks, Cleveland managed to finish with a 10–6 record and made the playoffs as a wild-card team. Cleveland met the Houston Oilers in the wild-card playoff round at home, but lost the game

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: Behind an offense that featured Graham, Groza, Motley, Lavelli and running back Dub Jones, Cleveland finished the 1950 season with a 10–2 record, tied for first place in the Eastern Conference. After winning a playoff game against the New York Giants, the Browns advanced to the NFL championship match against the Los Angeles Rams in Cleveland. The Browns won 30–28 on a last-minute Groza field goal. Fans stormed the field after the victory, carting off the goalposts, ripping off one player's jersey and setting a bonfire in the bleachers. "It was the greatest game I ever saw", Brown later said.

title: 2018 Cleveland Browns season

text: a 21–21 tie. This was the Browns' first tie since 1989, and it ended a 17-game losing streak which dated back to the 2016 season. On September 20, the Browns defeated the New York Jets 21–17, ending a 19-game winless streak. On October 29, Jackson was fired after posting a record of 2–5–1 through Week 8 and an overall record of 3–36–1 during his two and a half seasons in Cleveland. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who was in his first season with the Browns, was fired the same day. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was named interim head coach. Since the

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: instrumental in the Browns' championship runs, said he planned to retire after the season. Motley, the team's best rusher and blocker, retired at the beginning of the season with a bad knee. Star defensive lineman Bill Willis also retired before the season. Still, Cleveland finished the regular season 9–3 and met Detroit the day after Christmas in the championship game for a third consecutive time. This time Cleveland dominated on both sides of the ball, intercepting Bobby Layne six times while Graham threw three touchdowns and ran for three more. The Browns, who lost the last game of the regular

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: continued to make progress. Len Ford, who the Browns picked up from the defunct AAFC's Los Angeles Dons team, emerged as a force on the defensive line, making the Pro Bowl each year between 1951 and 1953. Second-year wideout Ray Renfro became a star in 1953, also reaching the Pro Bowl. During the summer before the 1953 season, the Browns' original owners sold the team for a then-unheard-of $600,000. The buyers were a group of prominent Cleveland men: Dave R. Jones, a businessman and former Cleveland Indians director, Ellis Ryan, a former Indians president, Homer Marshman, an attorney, and Saul

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: instead build a new stadium, with up to $48 million of additional financial assistance from the NFL. Further, Modell was ordered to pay Cleveland $9.3 million to compensate for lost revenues and taxes during the Browns' three years of inactivity, plus up to $2.25 million of the city's legal fees. As a result of the deal Modell's team was technically an expansion franchise, called the Baltimore Ravens. Preparations for a reactivated franchise began shortly after Modell, the city and the NFL struck their compromise. The NFL established the Cleveland Browns Trust to direct the Browns' return in early 1996, and

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: in which Ravens safety Will Hill return a blocked field goal 64 yards for a touchdown on the game's final play. The Browns lost at home 37-3 to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals the following week, dropping the team´s record to 2-10 and making them the first team in the 2015 season to be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. On January 3, 2016, soon after the final game of the season (a 28-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers), both Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine were fired from their respective positions as general manager and head coach. Cleveland started the season with

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: beat the Patriots in a wild-card game, but arch-rival Pittsburgh won a 29–9 victory in the divisional playoff, ending the Browns' season. As the Browns recaptured a hint of past success in 1994, all was not well behind the scenes. Modell was in financial trouble. The origins of Modell's woes dated to 1973, when he worked out a deal to lease Cleveland Municipal Stadium from the city for a pittance: only enough to service the facility's debt and pay property taxes. Cleveland Browns Stadium Corporation, or Stadium Corp., a company Modell and a business associate created and owned, held the

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: of the team, meanwhile, passed to his son Randy. Cleveland finished the season with a 9–7 record, earning a spot in the playoffs as a wild-card team. Couch suffered a broken leg in the final game of the season, however, and backup Kelly Holcomb started in the Browns' first playoff game versus the Steelers. Cleveland held the lead for most of the game as Holcomb passed for 429 yards. But a defensive collapse helped Pittsburgh come charging back in the fourth quarter and win 36–33 to end the Browns' season. To date, this is the only postseason appearance for the

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: one of the NFL's premiere pass-defending duos. After a slow start, the Browns rose to the top of the divisional standings, twice beating the Pittsburgh Steelers and ending a 16-game losing streak at Three Rivers Stadium. A 12–4 record earned Cleveland home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Browns' first opponents in the 1986 playoffs were the New York Jets. The Jets were ahead for most of the game and held a 20–10 lead as time wound down in the final quarter. But Cleveland took over and began a march down the field, ending with a Kevin Mack touchdown. The defense

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: combination. Unique features include the word "Cleveland" across the front of the jersey, the word "Browns" going down the pant leg, and the words "Dawg Pound" on the inside collar - all first of their kind features on NFL uniforms. Browns President Alec Scheiner compared these new jerseys to those of the Oregon Ducks football team, as the Ducks are known for their various uniform combinations. In the 2015 NFL draft, the Browns had two first round picks, selecting nose tackle Danny Shelton from Washington at #12, and offensive lineman Cameron Erving from Florida State at #19. On September 8,

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: fans to "bear with us." Fans brought out grills and set fire to their season tickets. A 20-year-old student at Baldwin–Wallace College picketed outside the team's training facilities with a sign that read, "Cut Belichick, Not Bernie." Cleveland won only two of the eight games after Kosar's release, finishing with a 7–9 record for the second year in a row. Cleveland managed to right the ship in 1994. While the quarterback situation had not stabilized, the defense led the league in fewest points allowed. The Browns finished 11–5, making the playoffs for the first time in five years. The Browns

title: 1994 Cleveland Browns season

text: three times, once on the ground, as five different Cleveland backs combined for over 100 rushing yards and two additional scores in a 35–7 rout of the Seahawks. With vaunted 1993 rookie Rick Mirer faltering, two different Seahawks quarterbacks combined for 229 yards and a pick. As of 2018, this is the Browns' most recent home playoff game and their most recent playoff victory. 1994 Cleveland Browns season The 1994 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 45th season with the National Football League. It was the only season that the Browns qualified for the playoffs under head coach Bill Belichick.

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: sources, ESPN reported that president John Collins was going to fire general manager Phil Savage over "philosophical differences" in managing the salary cap. The resulting uproar from fans and local media was so strong that it was Collins who resigned on January 3, 2006. A replacement for Collins was not immediately named, and Randy Lerner assumed his responsibilities. Cleveland regressed in the ensuing season, finishing with a 4–12 record. Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., who the Browns had drafted in 2004, put up respectable numbers, but the Browns were close to the bottom of the league in points

title: 2004 Cleveland Browns season

text: according to the conference rotation, and played the Chargers and Texans based on 2003 divisional positions. 2004 Cleveland Browns season The 2004 Cleveland Browns season was the team’s 56th season and 52nd with the National Football League. The Browns were looking to improve on their 5–11 record from 2003 and return to their 2002 playoff position; however, hindered by a tough schedule they regressed further and only won four games. On November 30, Butch Davis resigned as Head Coach and General Manager of the team. He was succeeded by offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie. Robiskie promoted tight end coach Rob Chudzinski

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: After five straight championship wins in the AAFC and NFL, the Browns appeared poised to bring another trophy home in 1951. The team finished the regular season with 11 wins and a single loss in the first game of the season. Cleveland faced the Rams on December 23 in a rematch of the previous year's title game. The score was deadlocked 17–17 in the final period, but a 73-yard touchdown pass by Rams quarterback Norm van Brocklin to wide receiver Tom Fears broke the tie and gave Los Angeles the lead for good. The 24–17 loss was the Browns' first

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: to the championship. Yet despite Cleveland's prowess, the Browns went into the championship game as heavy underdogs against the Baltimore Colts. Most sportswriters predicted an easy win for the Colts, who led the league in scoring behind quarterback Johnny Unitas and halfback Lenny Moore. The Browns' defense, moreover, was suspect. The team gave up 20 more first downs than any other in the league. The teams, however, had not faced each other for three years. Before the game, Collier and Colts coach Don Shula agreed to give each other full access to video of regular-season games. Ever the student, Collier

title: 1993 Cleveland Browns season

text: was supposed to back-up his former University of Miami teammate Bernie Kosar. However, when Testaverde performed better when given the opportunity to play some felt there should be a change at the Quarterback position. However, the Browns went beyond that by unceremoniously releasing Kosar in the middle of the season. The Browns lost their next four games and seven of their last nine games to finish with a 7-9 record. 1993 Cleveland Browns season The 1993 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 44th season with the National Football League. This season was notable for coach Bill Belichick deciding to bench,

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: season. Collins was named the game's MVP. This would be the last time that any professional sports team from Cleveland would win a league title until 2016, when the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Finals. To date, this remains the last time that the Browns have won the NFL title. The following year was a strong one as Jim Brown gritted out another league-leading rushing season. The Browns ended with an 11–3 record and comfortably won the eastern division. That set up a second straight appearance in the NFL Championship game against the Packers on a slippery, mucky

title: 1986 Cleveland Browns season

text: 1986 Cleveland Browns season The 1986 Cleveland Browns season was the team’s 37th season with the National Football League. The death of Don Rogers, a promising young defensive back who was preparing to enter his third season in the NFL, cast a black cloud over the team as it prepared for the 1986 season. Cleveland won their first postseason game since 1969, and for the first time in franchise history, the Browns reached the AFC Championship Game, where they would eventually fall to the Denver Broncos, in the game famous for “The Drive.” It would be the first of three

title: 2009 Cleveland Browns season

text: the game, was selected as the reserve offensive tackle, but started in the game because of an injury to Jake Long of the Miami Dolphins. 2009 Cleveland Browns season The 2009 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 61st season as a professional sports franchise and its 57th season as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The team placed fourth in the AFC North with a record of 5–11, improving upon its 2008 record of 4–12. This season marked George Kokinis and Eric Mangini's first seasons as the team's general manager and head coach, respectively; however, Kokinis was fired

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: Kosar and a cast of talented players on offense and defense, the team reached greater heights than Rutigliano and Sipe ever did. Though they became consistent playoff contenders in this era, the Browns did not reach the Super Bowl, falling one win short three times in the late 1980s. Kosar, who wanted to play for Cleveland because his family lived in a suburb of nearby Youngstown, Ohio, signed a five-year contract worth nearly $6 million in 1985 and was immediately embraced by the Browns organization and the team's fans. "It's not an everyday occurrence that somebody "wants" to play in

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: the Dawg Pound bleachers section rained debris, beer bottles and entire sections of seats onto the field, forcing officials to move play to the opposite end to ensure players' safety. Cleveland won the game, its only victory after the announcement of the move. The following February, the warring parties reached a compromise. Under its terms, Modell would be allowed to take his personnel to Baltimore, but would leave Cleveland the Browns' colors, logos and heritage for a reactivated Browns franchise that would take the field no later than 1999. The $175 million earmarked for stadium improvements was to be used

title: History of the Cleveland Browns

text: years of suspension while the old municipal stadium was demolished and Cleveland Browns Stadium took its place, the Browns started play again in 1999 under new owner Al Lerner. Since resuming operations, the Browns have made the playoffs only once, as a wild-card team in 2002. The Browns are only one of 12 NFL franchises to predate the 1960 launch of the American Football League, and are only one of three such teams in the AFC. In 1944 Arch Ward, the influential sports editor of the "Chicago Tribune", proposed a new professional football league called the All-America Football Conference. The