Cleveland Browns in History

Events in Sport

  • 1938-10-09 Cleveland Rams and Chicago Bears play one of only 4 penalty free games in NFL history; Rams win 14-7 at Cleveland Stadium
  • 1939-08-15 First night game at baseball's Comiskey Park in Chicago, White Sox beat Cleveland Browns 5-2

Brown to Coach Cleveland

1945-02-08 Paul Brown agrees to coach the new American football expansion team in Cleveland, which would later be named the Cleveland Browns after their coach

  • 1945-04-20 Cleveland Browns organization formed by Arthur "Mickey" McBride
  • 1946-09-06 All-America Football Conference begins regular season play as the Cleveland Browns beat the Miami Seahawks 44-0 before 60,135 at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium
  • 1946-12-22 Cleveland Browns beat NY Yankees 14-9 in AAFC championship game
  • 1947-12-14 Cleveland Browns beat NY Yankees 14-3 in AAFC championship game
  • 1948-12-19 Cleveland Browns beats Buffalo Bills 49-7 in AAFC championship game
  • 1949-12-09 NFL merges with AAFC; Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers & Baltimore Colts join league intact, other teams in New York and Los Angeles are merged with existing units
  • 1949-12-11 Cleveland Browns beat SF '49ers 21-7 in final AAFC championship game
  • 1950-09-16 Cleveland Browns (formerly AAFC) play 1st NFL game, beat Philadelphia 35-10)
  • 1950-10-01 New York Giants beat Cleveland Browns, 6-0 at Cleveland Stadium; sets Browns club record for fewest points scored by both teams; Browns go on to win NFL Championship
  • 1950-10-08 Cleveland Browns play Pittsburgh for 1st time, beat Steelers 30-17
  • 1950-10-29 Cleveland Browns' Marion Motley sets record for highest avg gain in a game with 17.1 (10 attempts), Cleveland 45, Pittsburgh 7
  • 1950-11-05 Cleveland Browns' Tommy James intercepts 3 passes, club record
  • 1950-12-03 Cleveland Browns last NFL team with no-pass game (beat Philadelphia 13-7)
  • 1950-12-24 National Football League Championship, Cleveland Stadium: Cleveland Browns beat LA Rams, 30-28; Cleveland has 5 interceptions, Rams 1

American Conference Prevails

1951-01-14 1st NFL Pro Bowl, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: American Conference beats National Conference, 28-27; MVP: Otto Graham, Cleveland Browns, QB

  • 1951-11-25 Cleveland Browns penalized a record 209 yards against Chicago Bears
  • 1951-12-23 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game
  • 1952-12-28 National Football League Championship, Cleveland Municipal Stadium: Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns, 17-7
  • 1953-10-25 Cleveland Browns' QB Otto Graham sets club record with 4 fumbles
  • 1953-12-27 National Football League Championship, Briggs Stadium, Detroit: Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns, 17-16 to retain title
  • 1954-01-28 1954 NFL Draft: Bobby Garrett from University of Stanford first pick by Cleveland Browns
  • 1954-11-07 Cleveland Browns' Chet Hanulak sets club record with 7 punt returns & win by their largest margin of victory (59) beating Wash 62-3
  • 1954-12-26 National Football League Championship, Cleveland Municipal Stadium: Cleveland Browns thrash Detroit Lions, 56-10; Browns' placekicker Lou Groza makes 8 extra points, a new title game record
  • 1955-12-26 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Cleveland Browns beat Los Angeles Rams, 38-14; Browns defend title and win their 3rd NFL Championship of the 1950s in a second straight rout
  • 1957-11-10 NFL Cleveland Browns' Don Paul sets club record for longest fumble return with a 89-yard run (and TD), beating Pittsburgh Steelers 24-0

Brown's Rush Record

1957-11-24 Cleveland Browns' fullback Jim Brown sets club record of 237 yds rushing

  • 1957-12-29 National Football League Championship, Briggs Stadium, Detroit: Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns, 50-14; Lions score 2 touchdowns in each quarter

Summerall's Winning Goal

1958-12-14 Pat Summerall kicks game winning field goal for the New York Giants against the Cleveland Browns at Yankee Stadium

  • 1959-10-04 Future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown makes club record 37 rushing attempts in Cleveland Browns, 34-7 win at Chicago Cardinals
  • 1959-11-01 Future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown runs for 5 touchdowns in Cleveland Browns, 38-31 win over Baltimore Colts at Memorial Stadium
  • 1959-11-15 Cleveland Browns' halfback Bobby Mitchell sets club record for longest run from scrimmage (90-yards), beat Wash 31-17

Sports History

1961-03-21 Art Modell purchases Cleveland Browns for then record sum ($3,925,000)

  • 1962-01-14 12th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: Western Conference beats Eastern Conference, 31-30; MVPs: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, RB; Henry Jordan, Green Bay Packers, DT
  • 1963-01-07 The rift between Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell and head coach Paul Brown reaches a boiling point, and Brown is fired
  • 1963-01-13 13th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: Eastern Conference beats Western Conference, 30-20; MVPs: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, RB; Eugene Lipscomb, Pittsburgh Steelers, DT
  • 1964-12-12 Cleveland Browns' Frank Ryan sets club record of 5 TD passes
  • 1964-12-27 National Football League Championship, Cleveland Stadium: Cleveland Browns shutout Baltimore Colts, 27-0; last championship win by a major-league pro sports team from Cleveland until 2016 NBA Cavaliers
  • 1966-01-02 National Football League Championship, Lambeau Field, Green Bay: Green Bay Packers beat Cleveland Browns, 23-12; first NFL title game televised in colour; last one played before Super Bowl era
  • 1966-01-16 16th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: East beats West, 36-7; MVPs: Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, RB; Dale Meinert, St. Louis Cardinals, LB
  • 1968-12-29 NFL Championship, Cleveland Municipal Stadium: Baltimore Colts shutout Cleveland Browns, 34-0
  • 1970-01-04 NFL Championship, Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington: Minnesota Vikings beat Cleveland Browns, 27-7
  • 1970-11-15 Paul Brown, as head coach of the expansion Cincinnati Bengals, defeats his former team the Cleveland Browns, a moment he calls his "greatest victory"
  • 1972-10-29 Don Cockroft of Cleveland Browns kicks 57-yard field goal
  • 1975-10-19 Cleveland Browns' Don Cockroft kicks club record 5 field goals
  • 1976-01-01 After 45 years of coaching, Paul Brown (Cleveland Browns; Cincinnati Bengals) announces his retirement from the National Football League
  • 1976-11-14 Cleveland Browns' Jerry Sherk sets club record with 4 sacks
  • 1977-09-26 Cleveland Browns play their 1st overtime game, beat Patriots 30-27
  • 1979-10-07 Cleveland Browns' Dino Hall sets club records with 9 kickoff returns
  • 1980-12-14 Minnesota Vikings pass for 456 yards against Cleveland Browns, winning 28-24
  • 1981-09-07 Cleveland Browns' Brian Sipe sets club record with 57 pass attempts
  • 1982-12-05 NFL Cleveland Browns' Brian Sipe sets club record with 33 pass completions
  • 1983-11-20 Cleveland Browns shutout Patriots 30-0
  • 1984-10-14 NFL Cleveland Browns' Ozzie Newsome sets club records with 14 receptions for 191 yds, in 24-20 loss to visiting NY Jets
  • 1984-10-21 Cleveland Browns' Steve Cox sets club record with a 60-yd field goal
  • 1986-09-07 Cleveland Browns become 1st team in NFL history to have a play reviewed by instant replay, Chicago 41, Browns 31
  • 1986-09-28 Cleveland Browns' Gerald McNeil sets the team record for the longest punt return with an 84-yard run (and TD), Browns 24, Detroit 21

AFC Championship

1987-01-11 AFC Championship, Cleveland Stadium: Denver Broncos beat Cleveland Browns 23-20 (OT)

  • 1988-01-17 AFC Championship, Mile High Stadium, Denver: Denver Broncos beat Cleveland Browns, 38-33; features infamous "The Fumble", Browns' Earnest Byner at Denver 3-yard line with 1:12 remaining
  • 1990-01-14 AFC Championship, Mile High Stadium, Denver: Denver Broncos beat Cleveland Browns 37-21
  • 1992-08-24 NFL Cleveland Browns suffer their worst pre-season loss, 56-3, to Minnesota Vikings
  • 1993-10-10 NFL Cleveland Browns' Najee Mustafaa sets club record for longest interception (97 yds)
  • 1994-09-04 Tom Tupa scores the first 2-point conversion in NFL history, running in a fake extra point attempt for the Cleveland Browns in a 28-20 win at Cincinnati
  • 1995-10-27 Contract finalizing Cleveland Browns' move to Baltimore is signed
  • 1995-11-06 Art Modell officially announces Cleveland Browns are moving to Baltimore, Maryland

NFL Record

1996-02-15 NFL coaching maestro Bill Belichick is fired by Cleveland, finishing his Browns coaching career with a record of 36-44

  • 1996-03-29 Cleveland Browns choose new name for their relocated team - Baltimore Ravens
  • 1996-09-01 Vinny Testaverde completes 19 from 33 for 254 yards as the Baltimore Ravens beat Oakland Raiders, 17-14 in their NFL debut at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore
  • 1999-04-17 NFL Draft: University of Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch first pick by Cleveland Browns
  • 2000-04-15 NFL Draft: Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown first pick by Cleveland Browns
  • 2017-04-27 NFL Draft: Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett first pick by Cleveland Browns
  • 2017-12-31 Cleveland Browns crash to a 28-24 loss to Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field to become only the 2nd team in NFL history to finish season with 0-16 record
  • 2018-04-26 NFL Draft: Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield first pick by Cleveland Browns; 4 QBs taken in top 10 selections for first time in history

Birthdays in Sport

  • 1884-04-01 Hugo Bezdek, Czech American College Football Hall of Fame coach (University of Oregon, University of Arkansas, Penn State; NFL: Cleveland Browns; MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Prague, Czech Republic (d. 1952)

Paul Brown (1908-1991)

1908-09-07 American NFL hall of fame coach (Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals), born in Norwalk, Ohio

  • 1920-01-12 Mac Speedie, American Pro Football HOF end (AAFC C'ship 1946-1949; NFL C'ship 1950; 6 × First-Team All-Pro; Pro Bowl 1950, 52; Cleveland Browns), born in Odell, Illinois (d. 1993)
  • 1920-06-05 Marion Motley, American NFL fullback (all-time leading AAFC rusher), born in Leesburg, Georgia (d. 1999)
  • 1921-10-05 Bill Willis, American College-Pro Football HOF defensive tackle (NFL C'ship 1950; 4 × First-team All-Pro; 3 × Pro Bowl; Cleveland Browns), born in Columbus, Ohio (d. 2007)

Otto Graham (1921-2003)

1921-12-06 American NFL Quarterback (Cleveland Browns), born in Waukegan, Illinois

  • 1923-02-23 Dante Lavelli, American Pro Football HOF end (NFL C'ship 1950, 54, 55 Cleveland Browns; First-team All-Pro 1953; 3 × Pro Bowl), born in Hudson, Ohio (d. 2009)
  • 1924-01-25 Lou Groza, American football placekicker & offensive tackle (9 × Pro Bowl; 4 × First-team All-Pro; Cleveland Browns), born in Martins Ferry, Ohio (d. 2000)
  • 1924-12-29 Dub Jones, American football halfback (Pro Bowl 1951, 52; First Team All Pro 1951; Cleveland Browns) and coach (Cleveland Browns 1963-68), born in Arcadia, Louisiana

Art Modell (1925-2012)

1925-06-23 American businessman (Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Modells Stores), born in Brooklyn, New York

  • 1926-02-18 Len Ford, American AAFC and NFL two-way end, 1948-58 (Cleveland Browns, and 2 other teams; 3 x NFL Champion, 4 X Pro Bowl), born in Washington D.C. (d. 1972)
  • 1929-10-16 Walt Michaels, American NFL linebacker, coach (5-time Pro Bowl; Cleveland Browns; head coach NY Jets 1977-82), born in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania (d. 2019)
  • 1930-05-08 Doug Atkins, American College/Pro Football HOF defensive end (Uni of Tennessee; NFL C'ship 1954, 63; First-team All-Pro 1963; 8×Pro Bowl; Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, NO Saints), born in Humbolt Tennessee (d. 2015)
  • 1930-09-01 Pete Brewster, American football end and coach (NFL Pro Bowl 1955, 56; Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers), born in Portland, Indiana (d. 2020)
  • 1933-07-01 Sam Rutigliano, American NFL coach and broadcaster (Cleveland Browns), born in Brooklyn, New York
  • 1933-10-18 Forrest Gregg, American Pro Football HOF tackle (9 x Pro Bowl; 7 × First-team All-Pro; Green Bay Packers) and coach (Cleveland Browns, Toronto Argonauts, Cincinnati Bengals, GB Packers), born in Birthright, Texas (d. 2019)
  • 1934-07-24 Willie Davis, American Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end (Super Bowl I, II; Pro Bowl 1963-67; First-team All-Pro 1962, 64–67; Green Bay Packers), born in Lisbon, Louisiana (d. 2020)
  • 1935-01-26 Henry Jordan, American Pro Football HOF defensive tackle (Super Bowl 1967, 68; 7 × All-Pro; 4 × Pro Bowl; Cleveland Browns, GB Packers), born in Emporia, Virginia (d. 1977)
  • 1935-06-06 Bobby Mitchell, American Pro Football Hall of Fame running back (Pro Bowl 1960, 62–64; First-team All-Pro 1962–64; Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins), born in Hot Springs, Arkansas (d. 2020)
  • 1935-08-16 Bill Glass, American College Football HOF defensive end (Baylor University; 4 x Pro Bowl Cleveland Browns; Detroit Lions), born in Texarkana, Texas (d. 2021)

Jim Brown (1936-2023)

1936-02-17 American College-Pro Football HOF running back (Syracuse University; Cleveland Browns - NFL Rookie of the Year 1957; NFL MVP 1957, 58, 65; 8 x First-team All-Pro; 9 x Pro Bowl), actor (The Dirty Dozen; ...tick...tick...tick...), and civil rights activist, born in St. Simons, Georgia [1]

  • 1936-04-29 Bernie Parrish, American football cornerback (Pro Bowl 1960, 63; Cleveland Browns; best-selling book, 'They Call It A Game'), born in Long Beach, California (d. 2019)
  • 1936-07-12 Frank Ryan, American football quarterback (NFL C'ship 1964, 3 × Pro Bowl, NFL passing TD leader 1964, 66; Cleveland Browns), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2024)
  • 1937-11-03 Jim Houston, American College Football Hall of Fame linebacker (Ohio State; Pro Bowl 1964-65, 69-70; Cleveland Browns), born in Massillon, Ohio (d. 2018)
  • 1941-02-18 Homer Jones, American football wide receiver (Pro Bowl 1967, 68; NFL record: career yards per reception: 22.3; NY Giants, Cleveland Browns), born in Pittsburg, Texas (d. 2023)
  • 1942-11-28 Paul Warfield, American NFL/WFL wide receiver, 1964-77, 8X Pro-Bowl (Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Memphis Southmen), born in Warren, Ohio

Marty Schottenheimer (1943-2021)

1943-09-23 American football coach (Cleveland Browns, KC Chiefs; NFL Coach of Year 2004, San Diego Chargers), born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

  • 1948-06-15 Mike Holmgren, American NFL coach and executive (Super Bowl 1996, Green Bay Packers; Seattle Seahawks; Cleveland Browns), born in San Francisco, California
  • 1951-09-10 Gary Danielson, American NFL quarterback (Detroit Lions 1976-84; Cleveland Browns 1985, 87-88) and college commentator (CBS, ABC), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • 1951-11-17 Butch Davis, American football coach (Cleveland Browns 2007–10; Uni of North Carolina 2017–21; FIU 2017-21), born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
  • 1956-03-16 Ozzie Newsome, NFL tight end (Cleveland Browns)
  • 1957-01-08 Dwight Clark, American football wide receiver ("The Catch" 1981 Super Bowl SF 49ers; First team All-Pro 1982; 2 × Pro Bowl) and executive (SF 49ers, Cleveland Browns), born in Kingston, North Carolina (d. 2018)
  • 1958-01-22 Charles White, American College Football Hall of Fame running back (Heisman Trophy 1979, USC; Pro Bowl 1987, Cleveland Browns, LA Rams), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2023)
  • 1960-10-20 Brian Hansen, American NFL punter (Pro Bowl 1984; NO Saints, Cleveland Browns, NY Jets), born in Hawarden, Iowa
  • 1962-08-29 Carl Banks, American NFL linebacker (Cleveland Browns, NY Giants), born in Flint, Michigan
  • 1962-09-15 Earnest Byner, American NFL running back (Cleveland Browns) and coach, born in Milledgeville, Georgia
  • 1963-02-10 Bennie Thompson, American football safety (Saints, Chiefs, Cleveland Browns/Ravens), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 1963-11-13 Vinny Testaverde, American College Football Hall of Fame quarterback (Heisman Trophy 1986, U of Miami; Pro Bowl 1996, 98; Tampa Bay Bucs, NY Jets), born in Brooklyn, New York
  • 1963-11-25 Bernie Kosar, American football quarterback (Super Bowl 1993 Dallas Cowboys; Pro Bowl 1987, 89 Cleveland Browns), born in Youngstown, Ohio
  • 1964-06-29 Pepper Johnson, American NFL linebacker (NY Giants, Cleveland Browns), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • 1964-08-03 Johnny Thomas, American NFL cornerback (Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers), born in Houston, Texas
  • 1965-01-21 Eric Moore, NFL tackle (Cleveland Browns)
  • 1966-02-06 Tom Tupa, American football punter & quarterback (Cleveland Browns, NE Patriots), born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • 1966-02-28 Tim Goad, NFL defensive tackle (Cleveland Browns)
  • 1966-04-12 Lorenzo White, American football running back (Cleveland Browns), born in Hollywood, Florida
  • 1966-05-24 Tony Jones, American NFL tackle (Super Bowl 1997, 98; Second-team All-Pro 1994; Pro Bowl 1998; Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos), born in Royston, Georgia (d. 2021)
  • 1967-02-09 Stevon Moore, NFL safety (Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens)
  • 1967-03-18 Andre Rison, NFL wide receiver (Cleveland Browns, KC Chiefs)
  • 1967-08-27 Rob Burnett, NFL defensive end (Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens)
  • 1968-01-27 Anthony Pleasant, NFL defensive end (Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons)
  • 1968-01-27 Matt Stover, American football placekicker (Super Bowl champion 1990, 2000; First-team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Golden Toe Award 2000; Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens), born in Dallas, Texas
  • 1968-05-15 Leroy Hoard, American NFL running back, 1990-99 (Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, and 2 other teams), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 1968-09-20 Eric Turner, American football safety (First-team All-Pro 1994; Pro Bowl 1994, 96; NFL interceptions co-leader 1994; Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens), born in Ventura, California (d. 2000)
  • 1968-11-05 Bob Dahl, American NFL guard (Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1969-01-14 Rico Louis Smith Jr., American football player (wide receiver for Cleveland Browns, 1992-95), born in Compton, California
  • 1969-03-15 Louis Riddick, American NFL safety (Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons) and broadcaster (ESPN MNF), born in Quakertown, Pennsylvania
  • 1969-04-12 Michael Jackson, American NFL wide receiver (NFL receiving TD leader 1996; Baltimore Ravens), born in Tangipahoa, Louisiana (d. 2017)
  • 1969-06-20 Gerald Dixon, NFL linebacker (Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals), born in Rock Hill, South Carolina
  • 1969-11-28 Pio Sagapolutele, American NFL defensive tackle (New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns), born in American Samoa (d. 2009)
  • 1969-12-19 Michael Bates, American football wide receiver (5 × First-team All-Pro; 5 × Pro Bowl; Carolina Panthers), born in Victoria, Texas
  • 1970-01-06 Keenan McCardell, NFL wide receiver (Cleveland Browns, Jaguars), born in Houston, Texas
  • 1970-04-08 Harold Bishop, NFL tight end (Cleveland Browns), born in Booneville, Mississippi
  • 1970-05-01 Alex Van Pelt, American NFL quarterback (Buffalo Bills) and QB coach ; GB Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 1970-05-13 Selwyn Jones, American NFL defensive back, 1992-97 (Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, and 2 other teams), born in Houston, Texas
  • 1970-08-21 Steve Everitt, American NFL center (Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles), born in Miami, Florida
  • 1970-10-12 Herman Arvie, American NFL tackle (Cleveland Browns), born in Opelousas, Louisiana
  • 1970-12-12 Orlando Brown, American NFL tackle (Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens), born in Washington, D.C.
  • 1971-01-30 Quentin Neujahr, American ice hockey player (Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns), born in Seward, Nebraska
  • 1971-05-23 Issac Booth, NFL cornerback/safety (Cleveland Browns)
  • 1971-08-31 Mike Caldwell, American NFL linebacker (Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals) and coach, born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
  • 1971-11-13 Craig Powell, NFL linebacker (Cleveland Browns)
  • 1972-08-06 Mike Frederick, NFL defensive end (Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens)
  • 1972-09-06 Eric Zeier, American NFL quarterback (Cleveland Browns), born in Pensacola, Florida
  • 1973-07-09 Kelly Holcomb, American football quarterback (Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns), born in Fayetteville, Tennessee
  • 1977-07-31 Tim Couch, American NFL quarterback (#1 overall draft pick 1999, Cleveland Browns), born in Hyden, Kentucky
  • 1983-02-21 Braylon Edwards, American football wide receiver (Pro Bowl & Second Team All Pro 2007; Cleveland Browns), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • 1984-05-24 Brodney Pool, American football player (Cleveland Browns), born in Corpus Christi, Texas
  • 1984-10-27 Brady Quinn, American football quarterback (Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos) and broadcaster (CBS Sports HQ, Fox Sports), born in Columbus, Ohio
  • 1984-12-04 Joe Thomas, American College/Pro Football HOF offensive tackle (University of Wisconsin; 10 x Pro Bowl; 6 × First-team All-Pro; Cleveland Browns), born in Brookfield, Wisconsin
  • 1990-02-12 Robert Griffin III, American football quarterback (Heisman Trophy 2011, Baylor; NFL Pro Bowl 2012, Washington Redskins; Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens), born in Okinawa, Japan
  • 1992-09-08 Za'Darius Smith, American NFL player (Cleveland Browns), born in Montgomery, Alabama
  • 1992-12-06 Johnny Manziel, American football quarterback (Heisman Trophy 2012, Texas A&M; NFL: Cleveland Browns), born in Tyler, Texas
  • 1993-04-12 Carl Nassib, American NFL player (Cleveland Browns), 1st publicly gay player, born in West Chester, Pennsylvania
  • 1995-04-14 Baker Mayfield, American football quarterback (Heisman Trophy 2017, U of Oklahoma; 2018 NFL Draft #1 pick Cleveland Browns), born in Austin, Texas
  • 1997-04-28 Denzel Ward, American NFL player (Cleveland Browns), born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • 1997-08-22 Eddie Williams, American pastor and former fullback (Cleveland Browns), born in San Mateo, California

Deaths in Sport

  • 1952-09-19 Hugo Bezdek, Czech American College Football Hall of Fame coach (University of Oregon, University of Arkansas, Penn State; NFL: Cleveland Browns; MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at 68
  • 1977-02-21 Henry Jordan, American Pro Football HOF defensive tackle (Super Bowl 1967, 68; 7 × All-Pro; 4 × Pro Bowl; Cleveland Browns, GB Packers), dies from a heart attack at 42
  • 1986-06-27 Don Rogers, of Cleveland Browns, dies of cocaine poisoning

Paul Brown (1908-1991)

1991-08-05 American NFL Hall of Fame coach (Cleveland Browns, 1946-62, 1968-69; Cincinnati Bengals, 1970-75), dies of pneumonia at 82

  • 1993-03-12 Mac Speedie, American Pro Football HOF end (AAFC C'ship 1946-1949; NFL C'ship 1950; 6 × First-Team All-Pro; Pro Bowl 1950, 52; Cleveland Browns), dies at 73
  • 2000-05-28 Eric Turner, American football safety (First-team All-Pro 1994; Pro Bowl 1994, 96; NFL interceptions co-leader 1994; Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens), dies of stomach cancer at 31
  • 2000-11-29 Lou Groza, American football placekicker & offensive tackle (9 × Pro Bowl; 4 × First-team All-Pro; Cleveland Browns), dies from a heart attack at 76

Otto Graham (1921-2003)

2003-12-17 American NFL Quarterback (Cleveland Browns), dies of a heart aneurysm at 82

  • 2007-11-27 Bill Willis, American College-Pro Football HOF defensive tackle (NFL C'ship 1950; 4 × First-team All-Pro; 3 × Pro Bowl; Cleveland Browns), dies at 86
  • 2009-01-20 Dante Lavelli, American Pro Football HOF end (NFL C'ship 1950, 54, 55 Cleveland Browns; First-team All-Pro 1953; 3 × Pro Bowl), dies at 85
  • 2009-06-07 Pio Sagapolutele, American NFL defensive tackle (New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns), dies of a aneurysm at 39

Art Modell (1925-2012)

2012-09-06 American businessman (Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Modells Stores), dies from heart failure at 87 (b. 1925)

  • 2015-12-30 Doug Atkins, American College/Pro Football HOF defensive end (Uni of Tennessee; NFL C'ship 1954, 63; First-team All-Pro 1963; 8×Pro Bowl; Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, NO Saints), dies at 85
  • 2018-05-03 Joe Scannella, American football coach (Oakland Raiders, Montreal Alouettes, Cleveland Browns), dies at 89
  • 2018-06-04 Dwight Clark, American football wide receiver ("The Catch" 1981 Super Bowl SF 49ers; First team All-Pro 1982; 2 × Pro Bowl) and executive (SF 49ers, Cleveland Browns), dies of ALS at 61
  • 2018-09-11 Jim Houston, American College Football Hall of Fame linebacker (Ohio State; Pro Bowl 1964-65, 69-70; Cleveland Browns), dies of dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 80
  • 2019-04-12 Forrest Gregg, American Pro Football HOF tackle (9 x Pro Bowl; 7 × First-team All-Pro; Green Bay Packers) and coach (Cleveland Browns, Toronto Argonauts, Cincinnati Bengals, GB Packers), dies of Parkinson's disease at 85
  • 2019-07-10 Walt Michaels, American NFL linebacker, coach (5-time Pro Bowl; Cleveland Browns; head coach NY Jets 1977-82), dies at 89
  • 2019-10-23 Bernie Parrish, American football cornerback (Pro Bowl 1960, 63; Cleveland Browns; best-selling book, 'They Call It A Game'), dies of prostate cancer at 83
  • 2020-01-03 Pete Brewster, American football end and coach (NFL Pro Bowl 1955, 56; Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers), dies at 89
  • 2020-04-05 Bobby Mitchell, American Pro Football Hall of Fame running back (Pro Bowl 1960, 62–64; First-team All-Pro 1962–64; Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins), dies at 84
  • 2021-01-22 Tony Jones, American NFL tackle (Super Bowl 1997, 98; Second-team All-Pro 1994; Pro Bowl 1998; Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos), dies at 54

Marty Schottenheimer (1943-2021)

2021-02-08 American football coach (Cleveland Browns, KC Chiefs; NFL Coach of Year 2004, San Diego Chargers), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 77

  • 2021-12-05 Bill Glass, American College Football HOF defensive end (Baylor University; 4 x Pro Bowl Cleveland Browns; Detroit Lions), dies at 86
  • 2023-01-11 Charles White, American College Football Hall of Fame running back (Heisman Trophy 1979, USC; Pro Bowl 1987, Cleveland Browns, LA Rams), dies at 64

Jim Brown (1936-2023)

2023-05-18 American College-Pro Football HOF running back (Syracuse University; Cleveland Browns - NFL Rookie of the Year 1957; NFL MVP 1957, 58, 65; 8 x First-team All-Pro; 9 x Pro Bowl), actor (The Dirty Dozen; ...tick...tick...tick...), and civil rights activist, dies at 87 [1]

  • 2023-06-14 Homer Jones, American football wide receiver (Pro Bowl 1967, 68; NFL record: career yards per reception: 22.3; NY Giants, Cleveland Browns), dies at 82
  • 2024-01-01 Frank Ryan, American football quarterback (NFL C'ship 1964, 3 × Pro Bowl, NFL passing TD leader 1964, 66; Cleveland Browns), dies from complications of Alzheimer's disease at 87