Cleveland Browns Football Club, commonly referred to as Cleveland Browns or simply Browns, is one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the United States. Founded in 1946 as part of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), it joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1950. The club is based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and plays its home matches at the famous FirstEnergy Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 67,000.
Cleveland Browns has a rich history, boasting 4 AAFC Championship titles, 4 NFL Championship titles, and numerous divisional titles. The club enjoyed its most successful era under legendary coach Paul Brown, who led the Browns to all of their league championship victories between 1946 and 1964.
Known for its strategic style of play, the club has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Joe Thomas, and Baker Mayfield. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances, Cleveland Browns remains one of the United States’ most valuable football clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence American and world football.
Cleveland Browns is one of the most popular football teams in America, with one of the highest average home attendances in the NFL. The team states that its nationwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Cleveland Browns Backers Worldwide (BBW), in at least 24 states. The team takes advantage of this support through its nationwide summer tours. Sports industry consultants Nielsen estimate that Cleveland Browns has 11 million fans nationwide. The team has a strong social media following among sports teams, with over 1.5 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Cleveland Browns had some of the most passionate fans in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns was formed in 1944 by businessman Arthur B. McBride and coach Paul Brown. The team joined the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and won the league's championship in each of its four years of existence. After the AAFC folded, the Browns joined the National Football League (NFL) along with the San Francisco 49ers and the original Baltimore Colts. The Browns won a championship in their inaugural NFL season, as well as in the 1954, 1955, and 1964 seasons.
In 1961, Art Modell, who had purchased the Browns in 1961, fired Paul Brown before the season. The team continued to succeed in the 1960s and 1970s, reaching the NFL Championship game in 1965, 1968, 1969, but failing to win. The Browns also reached the playoffs in the 1980s and 1990s but have never won a Super Bowl.
In 1995, Modell announced he was moving the Browns to Baltimore, a decision that caused outrage in Cleveland. The NFL and the city of Cleveland agreed in court that the Browns' name, colors, and history would stay in Cleveland, and the Baltimore team would technically and legally be a new team, the Ravens. In 1999, the Browns returned to the NFL as an expansion team. Despite some promising seasons, the Browns have struggled since their return, often finishing with losing records. The team's struggles have been due to a variety of reasons, including poor management, coaching changes, and difficulties in finding a franchise quarterback.
Originally funded by the Cleveland Trust Company, the club became a professional football team in 1946 under the ownership of businessman Arthur B. McBride. In 1953, majority ownership passed to a syndicate led by David Jones, who bought the club for a reported $600,000. After Jones' death in 1961, ownership of the club passed to his son, Art Modell, who controversially relocated the team to Baltimore in 1996, where they became the Baltimore Ravens. However, the Browns' name, history, and records were kept in Cleveland, and a new team was activated by the NFL in 1999.
This new incarnation of the Cleveland Browns was initially owned by businessman Al Lerner, who had played a key role in bringing the NFL back to Cleveland. After Lerner's death in 2002, control of the club passed to his son, Randy Lerner. In 2012, the Lerner family sold the Browns to businessman Jimmy Haslam for an estimated $1 billion. Haslam, who also owns the Pilot Flying J truck stop chain, has invested heavily in both the team and the city of Cleveland since becoming owner, including a $125 million renovation of the team's stadium, now known as FirstEnergy Stadium.
Despite a history marked by periods of financial instability and competitive struggles, the Browns remain one of the most storied franchises in NFL history. The team's passionate fanbase, known as the 'Dawg Pound', is a testament to the enduring appeal of the Browns, and under Haslam's ownership, the team has shown signs of a resurgence, including a return to the NFL playoffs in the 2020 season for the first time since 2002.
The Cleveland Browns is one of the most storied clubs in NFL history. The team's first trophy was the AAFC Championship, which they won four times consecutively from 1946 to 1949. In 1950, the Browns joined the NFL and won the NFL Championship in their first year. The Browns have won the NFL Championship a total of four times. In addition, they have won their conference four times and their division 13 times.
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Individual Awards
History of the Cleveland Browns: Detailed account of the origins, successes, and struggles of the Cleveland Browns Football Club. https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/history
Cleveland Browns Team Facts: An overview of the team's achievements, famous players, and fan base statistics. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/
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