The 10 Greatest Cleveland Browns of All Time

Out of 32 NFL teams, no logo shines brighter than the one emblazoned on the helmet of the Cleveland Browns. That timeless image accurately represents not only the Browns, but everything the city of Cleveland stands for.

You don’t see it?

Plastered on each side of every Cleveland Browns’ helmet is a perfect picture of tradition.

That helmet serves as a flashback to Paul Browns and the championship teams of the 1940s. That same burnt-orange represents “The Drive,” “The Fumble,” and every other sports mishap that has failed to keep Cleveland down. The brown and white stripes speak of a unity among players that served as an example for the world to see.

Coaches and players will come and go, but the ageless tradition of Cleveland Browns football will live on forever.

Today, we honor 10 players who have helped define that very tradition. These great men represent the values and ideals behind what it means to be a Cleveland Brown, and their contributions to the team will never be forgotten.

No. 10: Dante Lavelli

Name: Dante Lavelli
Position: Wide Receiver
Dates: 1946-1956
Years with Browns: 10
Hall of Fame: Class of 1975

As a wide receiver, you don't earn the nickname "gluefingers" without being consistently great.

Dante Lavelli was that and then some, and his consistency lands him at number ten on the countdown.

Dante Lavelli was the first "clutch" wide receiver professional football has ever seen. Lavelli's rapport with quarterback Otto Graham was a big reason the Browns were virtually unbeatable from 1946 to 1949. Together, the two men took the All American Football Conference by storm—orchestrating Paul Brown's offense to perfection.

The Cleveland Browns likely wouldn't have attained the level of success had it not been for Lavelli. His timely receptions and consistent play make Dante Lavelli one of the greatest wideouts to ever play the game.

No. 9: Bernie Kosar

Name: Bernie Kosar
Position: Quarterback
Dates: 1985-1993
Years with Browns: Nine
Hall of Fame: No

It can be argued no single player has done more for the Cleveland Browns than Bernie Kosar.

Kosar and the Cleveland Browns were a match made in heaven. The Boardman, Ohio native and lifelong Browns fan came to the team during a period of quarterback instability and mediocre team play. In his second and third years with the Browns, Kosar lead the Browns to the back-to-back AFC Championship games.

More than anything, Kosar and his Browns teams of the late 80s created a buzz among Browns fans the likes of which few have ever done before.

Bernie's greatness may have never produced any rings, but he provided fans with the optimism and hope that has become characteristic of Browns fans.

No. 8: Leroy Kelly

Name: Leroy Kelly
Position: Running Back
Dates: 1964-1973
Years with Browns: 10
Hall of Fame: Class of 1994

Few players in Cleveland Browns history have shown the heart and determination of Leroy Kelly.

During his ten year career with the Browns, Leroy Kelly was faced with every conceivable obstacle working against him. In addition to his relatively small frame (6'0", 201 pounds) Kelly faced the daunting task of replacing one of the greatest Cleveland Browns of all time. He was asked to do so during a period in time when civil unrest was at an all-time high.

He answered the call.

During his first full season as the feature back, Kelly amassed 1,507 all-purpose yards while accounting for 16 total touchdowns. He went on to make the Pro Bowl six times in 10 years, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994.

Kelly's exceptional balance and agility showed up in other facets of the game as well.

Leroy Kelly was one of the first dynamic return men in Cleveland Browns history. His pension for punt returns effectively made him the godfather of Browns special teams—a tradition that has managed to stay alive ever since.

No. 7: Gene Hickerson

Name: Gene Hickerson
Position: Offensive Guard
Dates: 1958-1973
Years with Browns: 15
Hall of Fame: Class of 2007

A big reason Cleveland Browns teams of the 1960s were so successful was the power running game complimenting the vertical passing game. Neither would have succeeded had it not been for strong efforts from offensive lineman.

Enter Gene Hickerson.

Hickerson helped set a standard for greatness held by offensive lineman today.

Gene’s accomplishments will never show up in the record books, but evidence of his greatness is all around him. Hickerson blocked for some of the games greatest running backs and quarterbacks over his illustrious 15-year career with the Browns.

He did so without gaining the recognition he so deserved - only elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame two years ago.

Hickerson anchored the Browns' offensive line for nearly two decades, and it is this reason he is recognized as the seventh greatest Cleveland Brown of all-time.

No. 6: Ozzie Newsome

Name: Ozzie Newsome
Position: Tight End
Dates: 1978-1990
Years with Browns: 13
Hall of Fame: Class of 1999

Any conversation mentioning the greatest tight ends to ever play the game must include the sixth greatest Cleveland Brown of all time: Ozzie Newsome.

No single player in Browns history has played a bigger role in Cleveland’s infamous mishaps than “The Wizard of Oz.” Newsome was the receiver on the opposite end of Sipe’s pass in the play simply known as “Red-Right-88.” He was there for “The Drive” and he saw Earnest Byner’s “Fumble.”

Ozzie Newsome was an intricate member of the “Cardiac Kids” teams of the 80s, and his acrobatic catches provided fans with hope and excitement.

As the NFL became more popular in the 1980s, it became increasingly rare to see one player spend his entire career with one organization. The Hall of Fame tight end could have played for a championship contender, but he chose to stay in Cleveland instead.

That fact alone makes Newsome one of the greatest players the Browns have ever seen.

No. 5: Bill Willis

Name: Bill Willis
Position: Defensive Tackle
Dates: 1946-1953
Years with Browns: Seven
Hall of Fame: Class of 1977

Every successful dynasty needs a capable defense, and the Browns of the early 1950s were no exception.

Paul Brown’s defense was anchored by several future Hall of Famers, but no player stood out quite like Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bill Willis.

What the 6’0, 200 pound Willis lacked in size, he made up for in heart. As one of the first black players in the NFL, Willis played the game with a chip on his shoulder. His emphasis on tackling technique and leverage helped him earn a reputation as one of the surest tacklers of his era.

Willis was one of the of the football players brought over from Ohio State under coach Paul Brown. Brown always believed the best player for the job would start on his teams. Willis’ hard work earned him a place on the Browns’ roster.

The spirit Willis embodied is alive today in player competition throughout the NFL. That competition would have never taken place had it not been for trailblazers like Willis, and the changes he helped inspire transcend the game of football.

No. 4: Lou Groza

Name: Lou Groza
Position: Offensive Tackle, Kicker
Dates: 1946-1959, 1961-1967
Years with Browns: 21
Hall of Fame: Class of 1974

Twenty-one years.

That’s how long the fourth greatest Cleveland Brown spent in the NFL – all with the same franchise.

Part time kicker and offensive lineman Lou “The Toe” Groza demonstrated toughness and a dedication to the Browns that will never be matched.

The most amazing thing about Groza is his unique combination of positions. During the 1950s, standard practice allowed players fill multiple positions on the roster. Groza was an excellent offensive lineman, and was named all-pro for his efforts.

On top of that, Groza was arguably the most clutch kicker in Browns’ history – securing championships and icing games with game-winning kick after game-winning kick.

There was a reason Groza earned the nickname “The Toe.”

A local product from Ohio State, Groza spent his entire year with Paul Brown and the Cleveland Browns. His life-long dedication to the team and his contributions to Cleveland’s championship history makes Lou Groza the fourth greatest Brown of all time.

No. 3: Marion Motley

Name: Marion Motley
Position: Running Back
Dates: 1946-1953
Years with Browns: Seven
Hall of Fame: Class of 1968

Few Browns fans recognize the name Marion Motley and even fewer acknowledge him as one of the great names in franchise history.

Marion Motley was the first bruiser in Cleveland Browns’ history. As Paul Brown’s go-to runner, Motley shouldered the load for the championship teams of the 40s and 50s.

Motley dominated the competition with his size and strength as a runner. He had great speed for a man of his size, and he utilized those extraordinary gifts by leading the Browns to five of their eight league championships.

Motley provided the foundation for Cleveland’s traditionally strong running game. However, his contributions to the Browns run deeper than that.

Along with Bill Willis, Marion Motley was one of the first African American football players to play football at the professional level. The bruising fullback helped clear the way for so many of the great black players that shaped the game into what it is today.

Motley played an instrumental role in the integration of professional football. He did all of that as a Cleveland Brown, which is why he deserves to be recognized as one of the greatest Browns of all time.

No. 2: Otto Graham

Name: Otto Graham
Position: Quarterback
Dates: 1946-1955
Years with Browns: 10
Hall of Fame: Class of 1965

Coming in at No. 2 is arguably the greatest quarterback in Cleveland Browns’ history.

“Automatic” Otto Graham was in many ways the father of the modern passing game. As the first ever quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, Graham was faced with the daunting task of learning and orchestrating Paul Brown’s complex offensive system.

Graham responded to the task, leading the Browns an unprecedented seven championships while compiling a 105-17-4 record in his ten seasons with the team. In five of those seasons, Graham lead his league in passing yardage and was crowned League MVP in three.

More importantly, Otto Graham embodied everything that has come to be associated with franchise quarterbacks.

Off the field, Graham lead the perfect life: The upstanding citizen who appeared in movies, commercials, and product endorsements. The perfect role model, Graham set the bar for not only future quarterbacks, but future Browns as well.

For orchestrating the first dynasty in franchise history and providing a shining example of what it means to quarterback the Browns, “Automatic” Otto Graham is awarded this prestigious place in Cleveland Browns’ history.

No 1: Jim Brown

Name: Jim Brown
Position: Running Back
Dates: 1957-1965
Years with Browns: Nine
Hall of Fame: Class of 1971

It should come as no surprise that the greatest football player to ever play the game is also recognized as the greatest Cleveland Browns player of all time.

On the football field, the enigma known as Jim Brown had no equal. Buried deep within that chiseled 6’2", 232-pound frame lay the perfect combination of brute strength, soft hands, agility, balance, and unparalleled toughness. Brown used those traits over the course of his dynamic NFL career to set a standard of greatness still upheld today.

Jim Brown turned the Cleveland Browns’ record books into his personal diary. He still holds dozens of team records, most notably the single-season rushing record (1,863 yards) and the franchise mark for yards in a career (12,312 yards).

Brown finished his career with an astounding 5.2 yards per carry average. He was named league MVP three times in his nine years, and he lead the Browns to their most recent league championship trophy in 1964.

On top of that, Brown made the Pro Bowl in each of his nine seasons in the league.

He never missed a game.

Had Brown not decided to retire at the tender age of 29, he likely would have possessed every rushing record not only in Cleveland’s record books, but Canton’s as well.

Without question, Jim Brown is the greatest football player to ever play the game. His devotion to Cleveland Browns football in the 1960s makes him the greatest player in franchise history.