Cleveland Browns are a professional football team that plays in the National Football League (NFL). The Browns compete in the North Division of the American Football Conference. The team plays its home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Browns began play in the NFL in 1999 as an expansion team. However, a professional team called the Browns had played in Cleveland from 1946 until 1995, when the team moved to Baltimore. In Baltimore, the franchise changed its name to the Ravens.
The original Cleveland Browns first played in the newly formed All American Football Conference (AAFC). The team was named for Paul Brown, who coached Cleveland from its first season through 1962. Two of the Black players who permanently broke football’s color barrier in 1946, Marion Motley and Bill Willis, played for the Browns. The team dominated the new league, and won the league championship all four years of the AAFC’s existence. The AAFC merged with the National Football League in 1950.
The Browns remained a powerful team after joining the NFL, winning the league championship in 1950, 1954, 1955, and 1964. From 1946 to 1973, the Browns had only one losing season. From 1973 to 1984, the Browns made the playoffs only twice. However, they were again among the league powers by the mid-1980’s.
Since becoming an expansion team in 1999, the new Cleveland Browns have made the playoffs only 3 times. The team has had only 4 winning seasons and has lost 10 or more games 17 times. In 2017, the Browns became the second NFL team to lose all 16 of its regular season games.
Cleveland Browns legends have included running back Jim Brown (1957-1965), quarterback Otto Graham (1946-1955), offensive tackle and place-kicker Lou Groza (1946-1967), guard Gene Hickerson (1958-1973), running back Leroy Kelly (1964-1973), linebacker Clay Matthews (1978-1993), tight end Ozzie Newsome (1978-1990), and quarterback Brian Sipe (1974-1983). Recent stars have included defensive end Myles Garrett, running back Nick Chubb, and tackle Joe Thomas.
