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 Cleveland Browns, professional football
team and one of six teams in the Central
Division of the American Football
Conference (AFC) of the National
Football League (NFL). Under the
leagues realignment plan, which will
take affect in 2002, the Browns will
play in the North Division of the AFC.
The original Cleveland Browns franchise
moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and took
the name Baltimore Ravens in 1996, but
in 1998 the NFL granted ownership of a
new Browns franchise to a group of
investors headed by businessman Al
Lerner and former San Francisco 49ers
president Carmen Policy. Using their
traditional team colors of orange,
brown, and white, the Browns rejoined
the NFL in 1999. The team plays in
Cleveland Browns Stadium. The original
Browns were one of the NFLs most
consistent teams, posting just 12 losing
records in 46 seasons. Head coach Paul
Brown collected three league
championships and seven division titles
from 1950 to 1962. One of Clevelands
first stars, running back Jim Brown,
became one of the most prolific runners
in professional football history,
capturing eight rushing titles during
his nine-year career. Cleveland made the
playoffs seven times during the 1980s,
including three AFC Championship Game
appearances. These teams featured
players such as quarterback Bernie Kosar
and running backs Earnest Byner and
Kevin Mack. The Browns became a charter
member of the All-America Football
Conference (AAFC) in 1946, with Paul
Brown as head coach and general manager.
Cleveland dominated the AAFC, losing
just four regular-season games while
winning every championship during the
leagues four-year existence. The Browns
boasted several future Hall of Fame
members, including quarterback Otto
Graham, tackle-placekicker Lou Groza,
end Dante Lavelli, and halfback Marion
Motley. Cleveland joined the NFL in 1950
and immediately became one of the
leagues best teams. That year, with
Motley leading the league in rushing
(810 yards), the team captured the first
of six consecutive division crowns and
the NFL title. (The Super Bowl was not
played until 1967.) Directed by Graham,
who led Clevelands top-rated offense,
the team also won NFL titles in 1954 and
1955. The Browns fielded the leagues
toughest defense six times from 1951 to
1957; it was anchored by future Hall of
Fame end Len Ford. After Clevelands
one-year absence from the postseason in
1956, rookie sensation Jim Brown carried
the team back into the playoffs in 1957.
Brown, a strong runner with great speed,
earned top rookie honors and the first
of his eight rushing titles. Behind
Brown and rookie wide receiver Paul
Warfield, Cleveland won the NFL title in
1964, besting the Baltimore Colts (now
Indianapolis Colts) in a 27-0 victory in
the championship game. The following
season Brown was named player of the
year. He retired with a total of 12,312
career rushing yards. Running back Leroy
Kelly replaced Brown as Clevelands main
offensive threat and won rushing
championships in 1967 and 1968. Under
head coach Blanton Collier the Browns
won division titles in 1968 and 1969,
but they lost in the championship game
both years. The Browns dominance faded
in the 1970s. Clevelands playoff
appearances in 1971 and 1972 ended in
first-round losses, and the team failed
to reach the postseason from 1973 to
1979. However, in 1980 the Browns won
the AFC Central Division. Cleveland
suffered early playoff losses in 1980
and then again in 1982. The Browns
drafted Bernie Kosar in 1985. He teamed
with Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack to
power Clevelands resurgence in the
mid-1980s. The Browns made the playoffs
from 1985 through 1989, and Kosar became
one of the NFLs top-ranked
quarterbacks. Cleveland reached the AFC
Championship Game in 1986, 1987, and
1989, but each time, the Browns lost to
the Denver Broncos. These matchups made
the rivalry between the two teams one of
the most celebrated in the NFL. The
Browns suffered five losing seasons in
their final six years in Cleveland.
Midway through the 1995 season, team
owner Art Modell announced plans to move
the team to Baltimore. Three months
after the announcement, which shocked
loyal Browns fans and the city of
Cleveland, the NFL granted Cleveland a
team and rights to the Browns name,
colors, and memorabilia. During a
special expansion team draft in February
1999, the Browns drafted a number of
veteran players, including center Jim
Pyne of the Detroit Lions and cornerback
Antonio Langham of the San Francisco
49ers. In April of the same year the
Browns used their number-one pick in the
NFL amateur draft to select quarterback
Tim Couch of the University of Kentucky.
The new Browns struggled during their
first season, finishing with a win-loss
record of 2-14. The Cleveland Browns
have never played in the Super Bowl.
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