Top 10 Cleveland Browns of All-Time

Photo via Axios

When you think of the Cleveland Browns there is a good chance you immediately think of one of the greats mentioned in this article. The Cleveland Browns history is filled with so many amazing players that couldn’t fit into my Top 10. 

Honorable Mention: RB Nick Chubb (2018-Present)

Nick Chubb has been one of the best RBs in the NFL since entering the league in 2018. Widely regarded as the best pure rusher in the NFL, Chubb provides Cleveland with exceptional vision and burst. His gritty determination and humble demeanor make him a fan favorite, while his powerful runs leave defenders grasping at air. Chubb was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 35th pick in the 2nd Rd of the 2018 Draft, the pick was announced by Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown. While Chubb would be much higher if he got to play in 2023, I still believe he is one of the best players Cleveland has had. I expect Chubb to move up on this list by the end of his career.

Accolades-

4x Pro-Bowler

4th in All-Time Rushing Yards (Browns Franchise)

2nd-team All-Pro

3rd in YPC among Active Players (Lamar Jackson/Russell Wilson)

2nd-team All-Pro 2022

 

10. QB Bernie Kosar (1985-1993)

In 1985, the Cleveland Browns selected the QB in the supplemental draft. Kosar would start his Browns career with a playoff berth at 8-8. Over his tenure in Cleveland, Kosar would lead the Browns to the playoffs in ‘86, ‘87, ‘88, and ‘89. Kosar’s later years in Cleveland were riddled with injuries. In 1990, Kosar threw a career-high 15 interceptions as the Browns finished the season at 3–13.

The following season the Browns would hire future legendary HC Bill Belichick. Kosar came back to throw for 3,487 yards and 18 touchdowns to only 9 interceptions, The Browns went on to finish 6-10 and miss the playoffs yet again. Kosar would end up being released during the 1993 season after a 29-14 L to the Denver Broncos. Kosar embodied the meaning of being a Cleveland Brown. Kosar was the first “high-profile” athlete to WANT to be in Cleveland. While Kosar doesn’t have the accolades of the other stars on this list, his impact on the community, fans, and team has landed him at 10.

Accolades-

Pro Bowl (1987)

Cleveland Browns Legends

9. LB Clay Matthews Jr. (1978-1993)

Drafted with the 12th pick in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Browns, Clay Matthews Jr. was the anchor for the Cleveland Browns defense for over a decade. Matthews Jr. was a part of some memorable Cleveland Browns all-time heartbreaks, such as the “The Drive,” “Red Right 88”, and “The Fumble.” While Matthews is a legend in the Cleveland Browns franchise, he has yet to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame but has been named a semi-finalist the past 2 seasons.

Accolades-

Second-team All-Pro (1984)

4× Pro Bowl (1985, 1987–1989)

NFL forced fumbles leader (1983)

4× NFL combined tackles leader (1978, 1979, 1981, 1984)

Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor

Cleveland Browns Legends

8. WR/DE Dante Lavelli (1946-1956)

Growing up in Hudson, Ohio and attending THE Ohio State University, where he only played 3 games due to being drafted into the US Army for World War II. Lavelli has always had Ohio ties. After returning from the war in 1945, Lavelli would join the team during their first season in the AAFC. The Browns finished the season as champions and would go on to win the next 3 championships before the league eventually shut down in 1949. The Browns would join the NFL and go on to win the 1950, 1954, and 1955 championships. Lavelli finished his career with 6,488 yards, 386 receptions, and 62 TDs. He also helped create the National Football League Player Association during his final season in 1956. Dante Lavelli was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

Accolades-

3x NFL Champion

4x AAFC Champion

3x First-Team All-Pro

2x Second-Time All-Pro

3x Pro Bowl

NFL 1940’s All-Decade Team

Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor

Pro Football Hall of Famer

7. Paul Warfield WR (1964-1969/1976-1977)

Warfield doesn’t have the flash of some of the league’s best WR of all time, but Warfield is up there. He played in an era of football that didn’t throw as much as they do now and still managed to rack up 427 receptions, 8,565 yards, and 85 TDs over his 13-year football career. Warfield is also an Ohio native, growing up in Warren, Ohio and attending THE Ohio State University as a WR/DB. He was selected with the 11th pick of the 1964 NFL Draft as a DB but during workouts HC Blanton Collier would switch him to WR. This gave teams fits trying to game plan against legendary RB Jim Brown AND Paul Warfield, good luck.

Accolades-

1x NFL Champion

8x Pro-Bowler

2x First-Team All-Pro

3x Second-Team All-Pro

2x NFL Receiving TD Leader

NFL 1970’s All-Decade Team

NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor

6. Myles Garrett EDGE (2017-Present)

The prize for a historically bad season, Myles Garrett was worth 0-16. While the Browns will go down in history as one of two teams that finished 0-16 in a season, Myles Garrett has shown that he is a generational edge rusher. Garrett has won over the hearts of Cleveland fans by dominating on the field and supporting the community off of it. Myles Garrett purchased a minority stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers organization. Garrett won the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year with a 14.0 sack season. Garrett currently sits second since 2018 in sacks (87.0) only trailing EDGE TJ Watt (94.5.)

Accolades-

NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2023)

3× First-team All-Pro (2020, 2021, 2023)

2× Second-team All-Pro (2018, 2022)

5× Pro Bowl (2018, 2020−2023)

PFWA All-Rookie Team (2017)

 

5. Joe Thomas LT (2007-2017)

Known by many as the one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history, Joe Thomas spent all 10 seasons in Cleveland and finished his lengthy career with a 48-128 record. Thomas currently holds the record for most consecutive snaps played in the NFL with 10,363 snaps. While in the NFL, Thomas only gave up 30 career sacks over his 10 seasons in the brown and orange. Thomas was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. While Thomas is retired, football is still something he looks forward to as an offensive line coach in the EFL for the Munich Ravens.

Accolades

6× First-team All-Pro (2009–2011, 2013–2015)

2× Second-team All-Pro (2008, 2012)

10× Pro Bowl (2007–2016)

NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

PFWA All-Rookie Team (2007)

Pro Football Hall of Famer (2023)

4. Lou Groza OT/K (1946-1959, 1961-1967)

Lou Groza was a crucial part of the Cleveland Browns 8 championships anchoring down the offensive line and being the kicker for the Browns. While Groza was not only one of the greatest Cleveland Browns of all-time, he was also one of the greatest football players of all-time. Groza would be the NFL’s career total point leader when he retired in 1967. Groza’s accuracy and strength as a kicker influenced the development of place-kicking as a whole in the NFL. He could kick field goals from beyond 50 yards at a time when attempts from that distance were unheard of. He set numerous records for distance and number of field goals kicked during his career that have now been replaced. Groza is one of five legends who have gotten their jerseys retired in Cleveland.

Accolades-

SN NFL Most Valuable Player (1954)

4× NFL champion (1950, 1954, 1955, 1964)

4× AAFC champion (1946–1949)

4× First-team All-Pro (1952–1955)

2× Second-team All-Pro (1956, 1957)

Second-team All-AAFC (1946)

9× Pro Bowl (1950–1955, 1957–1959)

NFL scoring leader (1957)

AAFC scoring leader (1946)

NFL 1950s All-Decade Team

NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor

Cleveland Browns No. 76 retired

3. Ozzie Newsome TE (1978-1990)

Ozzie Newsome today, is mostly known for his presence inside the Baltimore Ravens front office. Before that, Newsome was lighting up defenses in the brown and orange. Newsome was originally drafted with the 23rd pick of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He was named the Browns’ Offensive Player of the Year his rookie year, the first time in 25 years that a rookie had received that honor. Newsome was nominated for 4 Pro-Bowls in his career. Newsome currently is the Browns leading receiver in career receiving yards (7980 yards), receptions (662), and fifth in TDs (47.)

Accolades-

2× First-team All-Pro (1979, 1984)

4× Second-team All-Pro (1980, 1981, 1983, 1985)

3× Pro Bowl (1981, 1984, 1985)

NFL 1980s All-Decade Team

PFWA All-Rookie Team (1978)

Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor

2. Otto Graham QB (1946-1955)

Otto Graham is widely regarded as one of the best QBs of his era, making the league championship games every year between 1946 and 1955, making ten championship appearances, and winning seven of them. Graham finished his career with a record of 105-17-4, including a 9-3 post season record. He currently holds the NFL record for career average yards gained per pass attempt with 8.63. He also holds the record for the highest career winning percentage for an NFL starting quarterback at 81.0%.

Accolades-

3× NFL champion (1950, 1954, 1955)

4× AAFC champion (1946–1949)

3× NFL Most Valuable Player (1951, 1953, 1955)

2× AAFC Most Valuable Player (1947, 1948)

4× First-team All-Pro (1951, 1953–1955)

3× First-team All-AAFC (1947–1949)

2× Second-team All-Pro (1950, 1952)

Second-team All-AAFC (1946)

5× Pro Bowl (1950–1954)

2× NFL passing yards leader (1952, 1953)

NFL passing touchdowns leader (1952)

2× NFL passer rating leader (1953, 1955)

3× NFL completion percentage leader (1953–1955)

3× AAFC passing yards leader (1947–1949)

2× AAFC passing touchdowns leader (1946, 1947)

AAFC completion percentage leader (1947)

NFL 1950s All-Decade Team

NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor

Cleveland Browns No. 14 retired

1. Jim Brown

The Greatest Brown of all time, Jim Brown, is known around the league as one of the best running backs in NFL history. Brown was a Pro Bowl invitee every season he was in the league, was recognized as the AP NFL Most Valuable Player three times and won an NFL championship with the Browns in 1964. He led the league in rushing yards in eight out of his nine seasons, and by the time he retired, he held most major rushing records in the game. Jim Brown finished his career with 12,312 yards, 126 TDs, on 2,359 carries. He also had an impact in the pass game with 262 catches for 2,499 yards.

Accolades:

NFL champion (1964)

3× NFL Most Valuable Player (1957, 1958, 1965)

NFL Rookie of the Year (1957)

8× First-team All-Pro (1957–1961, 1963–1965)

Second-team All-Pro (1962)

9× Pro Bowl (1957–1965)

8× NFL rushing yards leader (1957–1961, 1963–1965)

5× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1957–1959, 1963, 1965)

NFL scoring leader (1958)

NFL 1960s All-Decade Team

NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

Bert Bell Award (1963)

Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor

Cleveland Browns No. 32 retired