Few franchises carry a lineage as rich as the Browns, from the dynasty that won championships in the 1940s and 1950s to the powerhouse offenses of the 1960s and the grinders of the modern era. Ranking the greatest Cleveland Browns players of all time means honoring the finest running back the game has produced, a quarterback who reached ten straight title games, and Hall of Famers across every era. Here is our ranked list of the legends who built Cleveland football.
1. Jim Brown (RB · 1957-1965)
Widely considered the greatest running back in NFL history, Brown led the league in rushing in eight of his nine seasons. He won three MVP awards and the 1964 NFL championship, and his 104.3 rushing yards per game remain the highest career average ever despite retiring at the peak of his powers.
2. Otto Graham (QB · 1946-1955)
The ultimate winner, Graham led the Browns to ten straight championship game appearances, winning seven titles across the AAFC and NFL. A multiple-time MVP and All-Pro, he posted the best winning percentage of any quarterback in pro football history and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
3. Lou Groza (OT/K · 1946-1967)
'The Toe' spent 21 seasons in Cleveland as both a standout offensive tackle and a pioneering placekicker. A nine-time Pro Bowler who helped the Browns win eight championships, Groza was one of the most versatile and durable players ever and earned his place in Canton.
4. Joe Thomas (OT · 2007-2017)
A model of consistency, Thomas made the Pro Bowl in each of his first ten seasons and started a record streak of more than 10,000 consecutive snaps. The six-time first-team All-Pro anchored the left side through lean years and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
5. Ozzie Newsome (TE · 1978-1990)
'The Wizard of Oz' redefined the tight end position, becoming the first at the spot to top 600 career receptions. A three-time Pro Bowler with sure hands and crisp routes, he spent his entire career in Cleveland and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. Leroy Kelly (RB · 1964-1973)
Stepping in after Jim Brown retired, Kelly led the NFL in rushing twice and made six straight Pro Bowls. The Hall of Fame back helped carry Cleveland to the 1968 and 1969 NFL Championship Games and was one of the most productive runners of his era.
7. Paul Warfield (WR · 1964-1969, 1976-1977)
An elegant deep threat with rare body control, Warfield was a Pro Bowl receiver during both of his Cleveland tenures. A member of the 1964 championship team, his blend of speed and precision route-running made him a Hall of Famer and one of the game's most feared wideouts.
8. Gene Hickerson (G · 1958-1973)
A devastating pulling guard, Hickerson cleared the way for three Hall of Fame backs in Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, and Bobby Mitchell. A six-time Pro Bowler and multiple-time All-Pro, he spent his entire career in Cleveland and was later enshrined in Canton.
9. Clay Matthews Jr. (LB · 1978-1993)
One of the most durable linebackers in NFL history, Matthews spent 16 seasons in Cleveland and made four Pro Bowls. A versatile, sure-tackling defender, he anchored the Browns' linebacker corps through the playoff-contending 'Kardiac Kids' and late-1980s teams.
10. Frank Minnifield (CB · 1984-1992)
A shutdown cornerback who made four straight Pro Bowls in the late 1980s, Minnifield formed one of the league's best tandems with Hanford Dixon. His tight coverage was a defining feature of the Browns teams that repeatedly reached the AFC Championship Game.
Honorable Mentions
Bernie Kosar (Beloved 'Kardiac Kids' era quarterback), Dante Lavelli (Hall of Fame receiver of the dynasty years), Bill Willis (Pioneering Hall of Fame two-way lineman), Marion Motley (Bruising Hall of Fame fullback), Mike McCormack (Hall of Fame offensive tackle), Brian Sipe (1980 NFL MVP quarterback), Nick Chubb (Modern-era franchise rushing standout), Hanford Dixon (Pro Bowl corner, coined the 'Dawg Pound')
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