Cleveland Browns

My All Time Favorite Cleveland Browns Players

When people think of the Cleveland Browns and its greatest players, they’ll usually think back to the team’s glory days of the 1950s and early 1960s. The Browns had some of the best players in football history on their teams. The early days of the Browns franchise featured a stout defense, but people who recall the Browns early years remember its offense. Marion Motley, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli and quarterback Otto Graham were a high flying bunch who greatly influenced what became the modern NFL offensive game. These players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and are some of the best Browns in team history.

Jim Brown is considered by many to be not only the best Browns player, but one of the greatest football players ever. His mix of strength and power made him one of the most feared and best running backs of all time. Despite retiring from football at the peak of his prowess, Brown is beloved by the Cleveland faithful and his standing as one of the top Browns ever is safe.

The 1980s were ultimately very disappointing for Browns fans, but it wasn’t because of a lack of talent. These Browns teams had some of the best players in team history. Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack proved to be a formidable 1-2 combination at running back, even if Byner is remembered for “The Fumble.” More recently, left tackle Joe Thomas is one of the best linemen in the entire NFL and is a solid anchor on their offensive line.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Otto Graham

Otto Graham - Cleveland Browns - Quarterback

1950 Bowman #45 Rookie Card

 

Brian Sipe

Brian Sipe - Cleveland Browns - Quarterback

1976 Topps #516 Rookie Card

 

Bernie Kosar

Bernie Kosar - Cleveland Browns - Quarterback

1986 Topps #187 Rookie Card

 

RUNNING BACKS

Jim Brown

Jim Brown - Cleveland Browns - Running Back - Hall of Fame - HOF

1958 Topps #62 Rookie Card

 

Leroy Kelly

Leroy Kelly - Cleveland Browns - Running Back

1967 Philadelphia #43 Rookie Card

 

Marion Motley

Marion Martin - Cleveland Browns - Running Back

1950 Bowman #43 Rookie Card

 

Eric Metcalf

Eric Metcalf - Cleveland Browns - Running Back

1989 Score #259 Rookie Card

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Paul Warfield

Paul Warfield - Cleveland Browns - Wide Receiver

1965 Philadelphia #41 Rookie Card

 

Dante Lavelli

Dante Lavelli - Cleveland Browns - Wide Receiver

1950 Bowman #78 Rookie Card

 

WR – Mac Speedie (1946-1952)

Gary Collins

Gary Collins - Cleveland Browns - Wide Receiver

1964 Philadelphia #31 Rookie Card

 

Derrick Alexander

Derrick Alexander - Cleveland Browns - Wide Receiver

1994 Upper Deck SP #15 Rookie Card

 

TIGHT ENDS

Ozzie Newsome

Ozzie Newsome - Cleveland Browns - Tight End

1979 Topps #306 Rookie Card

 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Lou Groza

Lou Groza - Cleveland Browns - Offensive Tackle

1959 Bowman #6 Rookie Card

 

Gene Hickerson

Gene Hickerson - Cleveland Browns - Offensive Guard

1966 Philadelphia #45 Rookie Card

 

Frank Gatski

Frank Gatski - Cleveland Browns - Center

1955 Bowman #119 Rookie Card

 

Jim Ray Smith

Jim Ray Smith Rookie Card - Cleveland Browns - Offensive Guard

1959 Topps #101 Rookie Card

 

Mike McCormack

Mike McCormack - Cleveland Browns - Offensive Guard - Offensive Tackle

1955 Bowman #2 Rookie Card

 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Len Ford

Len Ford - Cleveland Browns - Defensive End

1955 Bowman #14 Rookie Card

 

DT – Bill Willis (1946-1953)

DT – Bob Gain (1952,1954-64)

Lyle Alzado

Lyle Alzado - Denver Broncos - Cleveland Browns - Defensive End

1972 Topps #106 Rookie Card

 

Michael Dean Perry

Michael Dean Perry - Cleveland Browns - Defensive End

1989 Topps #148 Rookie Card

 

LINEBACKERS

Clay Mathews

Clay Matthews - Cleveland Browns - Linebacker

1980 Topps #418 Rookie Card

 

LB – Walt Michaels (1952-1961)

Chip Banks

Chip Banks - Cleveland Browns - Linebacker

1983 Topps #245 Rookie Card

 

LB – Jim Houston (1960-1972)

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Frank Minnifield

Frank Minnifield - Cleveland Browns - Cornerback

1986 Topps #198 Rookie Card

 

CB – Hanford Dixon (1981-1989)

DB – Tommy James (1948-1955)

Warren Lahr

Warren Lahr - Cleveland Browns - Defensive Back

1954 Bowman #74 Rookie Card

 

Thom Darden

Tom Darden - Thom Darden - Cleveland Browns - Safety

1974 Topps #316 Rookie Card

 

S – Bernie Parrish (1959-1966)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Matt Stover

Matt Stover - Cleveland Browns - Baltimore Ravens - Kicker

1992 Stadium Club #245 Rookie Card

 

P – Chris Gardocki

Chris Gardocki - Chicago Bears - Cleveland Browns - Kicker - Punter

1991 Pro Set #807 Rookie Card

 

PR – Bobby Mitchell

Bobby Mitchell - Cleveland Browns - Punt Returner - Hall of Fame - HOF

1959 Topps #140 Rookie Card

 

KR – Joshua Cribbs

Josh Cribbs - Joshua Cribbs - Cleveland Browns - Kick Returner

2005 Leaf #107 Rookies and Stars Card

 

NICKNAME

  • When owner Arthur McBride bought an AAFC team to Cleveland, he held a newspaper contest to name the team and offered a $1,000 war bond to the winner. Browns became a popular choice in tribute to Paul Brown the team’s head coach. Browns was selected the team was unable to use the winning entry Panthers, in honor of Cleveland’s first NFL entry.

TEAM HISTORY

  • *-Played in AAFC (1946-1949)
  • *-Played in NFL (1950-1995)
  • *-On Hiatus (1996-1998)
  • *-Played in NFL (1999-Present)

HEAD COACHES

  • Paul Brown (1946-1962)
  • Blanton Collier (1963-1970)
  • Nick Skorich (1971-1974)
  • Forrest Gregg (1975-1977)
  • Dick Modzelewski (1977)
  • Sam Rutigliano (1978-1984)
  • Marty Schottenheimer (1984-1988)
  • Bud Carson (1989-1990)
  • Jim Shofner (1990)
  • Bill Belichick (1991-1995)
  • Chris Palmer (1999-2000)
  • Butch Davis (2001-2004)
  • Terry Robiskie (2004)
  • Romeo Crennel (2005-2008)
  • Eric Mangini (2009-2010)
  • Pat Shurmur (2011-2012)
  • Rob Chudzinski (2013)
  • Mike Pettine (2014-2015)
  • Hugh Jackson (2016-2018)
  • Gregg Williams (2018)
  • Freddie Kitchens (2019-Present)

SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS

  • None

NFL CHAMPIONS (PRE-1966)

  • 1950, 1954, 1955, 1964

AAFC CHAMPIONS

  • 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949

SUPER BOWL APPEARANCES

  • None

NFL CHAMPIOINSHIP GAMES (PRE-1966)

  • 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1964, 1965

NFL/AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

  • 1968, 1969, 1986, 1987, 1989

DIVISION CHAMPIONS

  • 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989

PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

  • 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2002

PLAYOFF RECORD

  • 16-20 .444

HALL OF FAME PLAYERS

  • Doug Atkins DE (1953-1954)
  • Jim Brown FB (1957-1965)
  • Paul Brown Coach (1946-1962)
  • Willie Davis DE (1958-1959)
  • Len Dawson QB (1960-1961)
  • Joe DeLamielleure G (1980-1984)
  • Len Ford DE (1950-1957)
  • Frank Gatski C (1946-1956)
  • Otto Graham QB (1946-1955)
  • Lou Groza T/PK (1946-1959, 1961-1967)
  • Gene Hickerson G (1958-1973)
  • Henry Jordan DT (1957-1958)
  • Leroy Kelly RB (1964-1973)
  • Dante Lavelli End (1946-1956)
  • Mike McCormick T (1954-1962)
  • Tommy McDonald WR (1968)
  • Bobby Mitchell WR (1958-1961)
  • Marion Motley FB (1946-1953)
  • Ozzie Newsome TE (1978-1990)
  • Paul Warfield WR (1964-69, 1976-1977)
  • Bill Willis Guard (1946-1953)

RETIRED NUMBERS

  • 14 Otto Graham QB (1946-1955)
  • 32 Jim Brown FB (1957-1965)
  • 45 Ernie Davis RB (1962 Draft Pick)
  • 46 Don Fleming DB (1960-1962)
  • 76 Lou Groza T/PK (1946-1959, 1961-1967)

PRO BOWL Bowl MVP

  • 1951 Otto Graham QB
  • 1962 Jim Brown FB
  • 1963 Jim Brown FB
  • 1966 Jim Brown FB

AWARDS

COACH OF THE YEAR

  • 1949 Paul Brown
  • 1951 Paul Brown
  • 1953 Paul Brown

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

  • 1982 Chip Banks LB

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

  • 1957 Jim Brown FB

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

  • None

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

  • None

AAFC MVP

  • 1947 Otto Graham QB
  • 1948 Otto Graham QB

NFL MVP

  • 1953 Otto Graham QB
  • 1955 Otto Graham QB
  • 1957 Jim Brown FB
  • 1965 Jim Brown FB
  • 1980 Brian Sipe QB

SUPER BOWL MVP

  • None

 

The Cleveland Browns have had many great players over their history. Here is a list of Cleveland Browns players by position.

Cleveland Browns Quarterbacks

Derek Anderson, Tim Couch, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Jeff Garcia, Otto Graham, Kelley Holcomb, Bernie Kosar, Paul McDonald, Bill Nelson, Jim Ninowski, Tommy O’Connell, Mike Phipps, Milt Plum, Brady Quinn, George Ratterman, Frank Ryan, Mark Rypien, Brian Sipe, Vinnie Testaverde

Cleveland Browns Running Backs

Bill Boedeker, Jim Brown, Earnest Byner, Ken Carpenter, Reuben Droughns, Ernie Green, William Green, Calvin Hill, Leroy Hoard, Dub Jones, Edgar Jones, Leroy Kelly, Jamal Lewis, Kevin Mack, Eric Metcalf, Cleo Miller, Bobby Mitchell, Fred Morrison, Marion Motley, Ed Modzelewski, Greg Pruitt, Mike Pruitt, Errict Rhett, Bo Scott, Charles White

Cleveland Browns Wide Receivers

Derrick Alexander, Pete Brewster, Antonio Bryant, Gary Collins, Andre Davis, Braylon Edwards, Ricky Feacher, Fair Hooker, Michael Jackson, Dante Lavelli, Reggie Langhorne, Dave Logan, Dennis Northcutt, Frank Pitts, Ray Renfro, Reggie Rucker, Webster Slaughter, Mac Speedie, Paul Warfield

Cleveland Browns Tight Ends

Mark Bavaro, Johnny Brewer, Mark Campbell, Chip Glass, Frank Hartley, Steve Heiden, Harry Holt, Brian Kinchen, Milt Morin, Ozzie Newsome, Gary Parris, Oscar Roan, Ralph Smith, Travis Tucker, Kellen Winslow Jr.

Cleveland Browns Offensive Lineman

Mike Baab, Rickey Bolden, Harold Bradley, Courtney Brown, John Brown, Orlando Brown, Monte Clark, Don Colo, Bill Contz, Jim Copeland, Barry Darrow, Willie Davis, Joe DeLamielleure, Tom DeLeone, Bob DeMarco, John DeMarie, Al Dennis, Doug Dieken, Steve Everitt, Mike Farren, Dan Fike, Herschel Forester, Frank Gatski, Abe Gibron, Forrest Grigg, Lou Groza, Fred Hoaglin, Art Hunter, Tony Jones, John Kissell, Mike McCormack, Bob McKay, John Morrow, Chuck Noll, Shaun O’Hara, Gene Hickerson, Robert E. Jackson, Jim Ray Smith, Chuck Reynolds, Cody Risien, Lou Rumkus, John Sandusky, Dick Schafrath, Henry Sheppard, Gerry Sullivan, Joe Taffoni, Ryan Tucker, Wally Williams, Frank Winters, John Wooten

Cleveland Browns Defensive Lineman

Lyle Alzado, Doug Atkins, Al Baker, Bob Briggs, Rob Burnett, Reggie Camp, Sam Clancy, Earl Edwards, Len Ford, Elvis Franks, Bob Gain, Bill Glass, Bob Golic, Jack Gregory, Carl Hairston, Gerald Irons, Bill Johnson, Walter Johnson, James Jones, Joe Jones, Henry Jordan, Jim Kanicki, Mack Mitchell, Dick Modzelewski, Frank Parker, Michael Dean Perry, Anthony Pleasant, Dave Puzzuoli, Orpheus Roye, Jerry Sherk, Ron Snidow, Mike St. Clair, Gerard Warren, Paul Wiggin, Bill Willis, John Yonakor, George Young

Cleveland Browns Linebackers

Tony Adamle, Alex Agase, Dick Ambrose, Billy Andrews, Bob Babich, Carl Banks, Chip Banks, Mike Caldwell, Vince Costello, Tom Cousineau, Andra Davis, Galen Fiss, John Garlington, Dave Graf, David Grayson, Charlie Hall, Lin Houston, Weldon Humble, Robert L. Jackson, Eddie Johnson, Mike Johnson, Pepper Johnson, Ricky Jones, Dale Lindsey, Dave Lloyd, Mike Lucci, Bob Matheson, Walt Michaels, Scott Nicolas, Lou Saban, Frank Stams, Tommy Thompson, Van Waiters

Cleveland Browns Defensive Backs

Erich Barnes, Larry Benz, Leigh Bodden, Ron Bolton, Stephen Braggs, Clifford Brooks, Thom Darden, Ben Davis, Hanford Dixon, Ross Fichtner, Bobby Franklin, Corey Fuller, Robert Griffith, Al Gross, Mark Harper, Anthony Henry, Randy Hilliard, Mike Howell, Tommy James, Ernie Kellerman, Ken Konz, Warren Lahr, Antonio Langham, Cliff Lewis, Earl Little, Frank Minnifield, Stevon Moore, Bernie Parrish, Don Paul, Chris Rockins, Clarence Scott, Jim Shofner, Walt Sumner, Bennie Thompson, Eric Turner, Everson Walls, Felix Wright

Cleveland Browns Kickers

Matt Bahr, Don Cockroft, Phil Dawson, Lou Groza, Matt Stover

Cleveland Browns Punters

Don Cockroft, Chris Gardocki, Horace Gillom, Jeff Gossett, Brian Hansen, Tom Tupa

 

©MMXIX My All Time Favorites, all pictures and logos, team names are property of the National Football League. This site is not affiliated with the NFL or Cleveland Browns.  All Football Cards are low resolution scans from a personal collection and each is credited with the production company name and year.  This site is maintained for research purposes only.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *