Cleveland Browns

**History** edit The Browns were named after original head coach Paul Brown. The Cleveland Browns were founded in 1944 when taxicab magnate Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride secured a Cleveland franchise in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC). 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. 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 fullback Jim Brown. The Browns won the championship in 1964 and reached the title game the following season, losing to the Green Bay Packers. 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. In 1995, Modell announced he was moving the Browns to Baltimore, drawing a mix of outrage and bitterness from Cleveland's dedicated fan base. 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, but would leave Cleveland the Browns' colors, logos and heritage for a reactivated Browns franchise that would take the field no later than 1999. Before the 1991 season, the Browns hired Bill Belichick to be the head coach. He led the team one winning season in his five years with the team, which occurred in 1994. The 1994 team defeated the New England Patriots 20–13 in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers 29–9 in the Divisional Round. After a 5–11 season in 1995, the Browns fired Belichick. After three years of inactivity while Cleveland Stadium was demolished and Huntington Bank Field, then known as Cleveland Browns Stadium was built on its site, the Browns were reactivated and started play again in 1999 under new owner Al Lerner. Under head coach Chris Palmer, the Browns went 2–14 in 1999 and 3–13 in 2000. 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. The team's struggles have been magnified since 2012, when the Lerner family sold the team to businessman Jimmy Haslam. 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 before the 2001 season. In his first season, he led the team to a 7–9 record in 2001. He led the team to a playoff berth with a 9–7 record in 2002. The Browns lost 36–33 to the Steelers in the Wild Card Round. The team regressed to a 5–11 record in the 2003 season. After a 3–8 start to the 2004 season, Davis resigned. Terry Robiskie finished out the season with a 1–4 mark. Before the 2005 season, the team hired Romeo Crennel to be their next head coach. He went 6–10 in 2005 and 4–12 in 2006. He posted a winning 10–6 record that did not qualify for the playoffs in the 2007 season. He went 4–12 in the 2008 season and was fired after the season. Eric Mangini posted consecutive 5–11 seasons as head coach in 2009 and 2010 before getting fired. Pat Shurmur coached the team to a 4–12 record in 2011 and a 5–11 record in 2012 before getting fired. Rob Chudzinski coached the Browns in the 2013 season. He was fired after a 4–12 campaign. Mike Pettine coached the team in 2014 and 2015, going 7–9 and 3–13 before getting fired. 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. Those top overall draft picks were used on Myles Garrett and Baker Mayfield. Before the 2019 season, Freddie Kitchens was hired as head coach. Kitchens led the team to a 6–10 record and was fired after the season. Before the 2020 season, the Browns hired Kevin Stefanski as their head coach. 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. In the Wild Card Round, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 48–37 for their first playoff win since 1994. The Browns saw their season end in a 22–17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. The 2021 season saw the Browns go 8–9 and miss the postseason. In the following season, the Browns went 7–10 and missed the postseason for the 2022 season. In the 2023 season, the Browns returned to the postseason with an 11–6 mark. The Browns ended their season with a 45–14 loss to the Texans in the Wild Card Round. - ^ "Arthur McBride is Dead at 85; Founder of Cleveland Browns". The New York Times. November 12, 1972. Retrieved August 4, 2024. - ^ "Championship - Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland Browns - December 24th, 1950". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2024. - ^ "Championship - Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns - December 26th, 1954". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2024. - ^ "Championship - Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Rams - December 26th, 1955". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 4, 2024. - ^ Schudel, Jeff (December 24, 2021). "56 years ago, Browns lost 1965 NFL championship to Packers in Lambeau quagmire". News-Herald. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ "AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns - January 11th, 1987". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ "AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1988". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ "AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 14th, 1990". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ Janofsky, Michael (November 7, 1995). "PRO FOOTBALL;The Browns Put N.F.L. Back in Baltimore". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ Sandomir, Richard (February 12, 1996). "How Compromise Built Cleveland a New Stadium". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2012. - ^ Sandomir, Richard (February 10, 1996). "N.F.L. Gives Modell a Ticket to Baltimore". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2012. - ^ Risdon, Jeff (February 5, 2019). "Browns hired Bill Belichick on this date in 1991". Browns Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 28, 2024. - ^ "Bill Belichick Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2024. - ^ "Wild Card - New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns - January 1st, 1995". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2024. - ^ "Divisional Round - Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 7th, 1995". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2024. - ^ "1995 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 28, 2024. - ^ Orr, Conor (February 15, 2019). "A look back at the firing of Bill Belichick". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 28, 2024. - ^ Labbe, Dan (June 21, 2017). "1999 NFL expansion draft: Look back at the Cleveland Browns' re-entry into the league". cleveland.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "Chris Palmer Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ Trotter, Jake (December 29, 2023). "Joe Flacco leads Browns to just third playoff berth since 1999". ESPN. Cleveland. Retrieved January 22, 2024. - ^ "Haslam's $1.05B purchase of Browns finalized". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 25, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2024. - ^ "Butch Davis, 2001: Cleveland Browns Coach Hire Rewind (Part 2)". cleveland.com. January 11, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2001 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2002 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "Wild Card - Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 5th, 2003". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2003 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ Hack, Damon (December 1, 2004). "As Browns Plummet, Davis Quits as Coach". The New York Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2004 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "Cleveland signs Crennel". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 8, 2005. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2005 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2006 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2007 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2008 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "Browns can Crennel; Cowher doesn't want job". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 29, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "Browns hire Mangini as next coach". NFL.com. January 8, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2009 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2010 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "Eric Mangini Fired after Browns' 5-11 Season". CBS News. January 3, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ Grossi, Tony (January 14, 2011). "Cleveland Browns name Pat Shurmur new head coach". cleveland.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2011 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2012 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ Schefter, Adam (December 31, 2012). "Browns in flux again as Shurmur, Heckert fired". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ Sessler, Marc (December 29, 2013). "Rob Chudzinski fired by Cleveland Browns". NFL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ "2013 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 27, 2024. - ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (January 23, 2014). "Mike Pettine hired as Cleveland Browns' next coach". NFL.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024. - ^ "2014 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 26, 2024. - ^ "2015 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 26, 2024. - ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (January 3, 2016). "Cleveland Browns fire Mike Pettine, GM Ray Farmer". NFL.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024. - ^ McManamon, Pat (December 31, 2017). "Browns finish 0-16 but Jackson will be back". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ "Browns clinch No. 1 pick in 2017 NFL draft". USA Today. January 1, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ "Browns clinch top pick with historic 15th defeat". ESPN.com. December 24, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ Roach, Jacob (April 22, 2024). "Browns DE Myles Garrett third-highest graded player from the 2017 NFL draft". Browns Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 13, 2024. - ^ Sessler, Marc (April 26, 2018). "Baker Mayfield drafted No. 1 overall by Browns". NFL.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024. - ^ McManamon, Pat (January 14, 2019). "Kitchens: Browns showed 'guts' to hire me". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024. - ^ "2019 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 13, 2024. - ^ Trotter, Jake (December 30, 2019). "Browns fire Kitchens, eye multiple candidates". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024. - ^ "Browns hire Kevin Stefanski as next head coach". NFL.com. January 12, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2024. - ^ Cite error: The named reference BrownsPlayoffs was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Rapien, James (January 11, 2021). "Shorthanded Browns Upset Steelers 48-37, Secure First Playoff Win Since 1994". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ "Divisional Round - Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs - January 17th, 2021". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ Labbe, Dan (January 10, 2022). "Browns' 2021 season marks a missed opportunity in a division, playoff race there for the taking". cleveland. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ Carey, Tyler (January 8, 2023). "Cleveland Browns fall to Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 in finale, ending season with 7-10 record". WKYC.com. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ "2023 Cleveland Browns Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2024. - ^ "Wild Card - Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans - January 13th, 2024". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2024.