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The 39 Greatest Cleveland Browns Players of All Time

By YPB Team

Rushing pioneers, iron-man linemen, beloved playoff-run quarterbacks, and modern defensive terrors — every era of Browns history has a claim. Where do you stand?

  1. Jim Brown — ranked #11
    Jim Brown
    Running back from 1957 to 1965, widely considered the greatest player in NFL history and the centerpiece of Browns football.
    1000pts
  2. Myles Garrett — ranked #22
    Myles Garrett
    Pass rusher from 2017 to 2025, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who set the NFL single-season sack record with 23 in 2025 before his 2026 trade to the Rams.
    652pts
  3. Nick Chubb — ranked #33
    Nick Chubb
    Running back from 2018 to 2024, one of the most efficient ball-carriers in modern NFL history before a career-threatening knee injury.
    503pts
  4. Clay Matthews — ranked #44
    Clay Matthews
    Linebacker from 1978 to 1993 who brought relentless energy to the Cleveland defense across 16 seasons and four Pro Bowls.
    503pts
  5. Otto Graham — ranked #55
    Otto Graham
    Quarterback from 1946 to 1955 who led the Browns to 10 championship game appearances in his 10 professional seasons.
    391pts
  6. Bernie Kosar — ranked #66
    Bernie Kosar
    Quarterback from 1985 to 1993, the beloved local hero who engineered multiple deep playoff runs and remains a cult figure in Cleveland.
    235pts
  7. Brian Sipe — ranked #77
    Brian Sipe
    Quarterback who earned the 1980 NFL MVP award and led the Kardiac Kids on one of the most dramatic regular-season runs in team history.
    235pts
  8. Frank Minnifield — ranked #88
    Frank Minnifield
    Cornerback who formed one of the NFL's most feared tandems with Hanford Dixon during the 1980s playoff runs.
    235pts
  9. Paul Warfield — ranked #99
    Paul Warfield
    Wide receiver from 1964 to 1969 whose blazing speed and sure hands made him one of the most dangerous weapons of his era.
    1pts
  10. Leroy Kelly — ranked #1010
    Leroy Kelly
    Running back from 1964 to 1973 who stepped out of Jim Brown's shadow to post three straight 1,000-yard seasons.
    0pts
  11. Ozzie Newsome — ranked #1111
    Ozzie Newsome
    Tight end from 1978 to 1990, a Hall of Famer who redefined the position and later built Super Bowl-winning rosters as a GM.
    0pts
  12. Lou Groza — ranked #1212
    Lou Groza
    Kicker and offensive tackle from 1946 to 1967, nicknamed 'The Toe', who won eight league championships with the Browns.
  13. Marion Motley — ranked #1313
    Marion Motley
    Fullback from 1946 to 1953, a punishing runner and blocker who helped break pro football's colour barrier.
  14. Dante Lavelli — ranked #1414
    Dante Lavelli
    End from 1946 to 1956, nicknamed 'Glue Fingers', a Hall of Famer who was Otto Graham's go-to receiver in big games.
  15. Bill Willis — ranked #1515
    Bill Willis
    Guard from 1946 to 1953, a lightning-quick Hall of Fame defender who helped reintegrate professional football in 1946.
  16. Len Ford — ranked #1616
    Len Ford
    Defensive end from 1950 to 1957 whose pass rushing reshaped defensive line play and earned him a Hall of Fame bust.
  17. Gene Hickerson — ranked #1717
    Gene Hickerson
    Guard from 1958 to 1973 who led the way for Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell and entered the Hall of Fame in 2007.
  18. Mike McCormack — ranked #1818
    Mike McCormack
    Hall of Fame offensive tackle from 1954 to 1962, called by Paul Brown the finest offensive lineman he ever coached.
  19. Joe Thomas — ranked #1919
    Joe Thomas
    Left tackle from 2007 to 2017 who played a record 10,363 consecutive snaps and made ten Pro Bowls before entering the Hall of Fame.
  20. Dick Schafrath — ranked #2020
    Dick Schafrath
    Offensive tackle from 1959 to 1971 and six-time Pro Bowler who protected the passer on the 1964 championship team.
  21. Greg Pruitt — ranked #2121
    Greg Pruitt
    Running back from 1973 to 1981 and four-time Pro Bowler with the Browns, famous for his tear-away jersey and elusive running.
  22. Hanford Dixon — ranked #2222
    Hanford Dixon
    Cornerback from 1981 to 1989 who coined the 'Dawg Pound' name and earned three Pro Bowl selections.
  23. Kevin Mack — ranked #2323
    Kevin Mack
    Fullback from 1985 to 1993 who ran for 1,104 yards as a rookie alongside Earnest Byner and made two Pro Bowls.
  24. Earnest Byner — ranked #2424
    Earnest Byner
    Running back in two spells from 1984 to 1995, remembered for a heroic 1987 AFC Championship Game and for 'The Fumble'.
  25. Eric Metcalf — ranked #2525
    Eric Metcalf
    Running back and returner from 1989 to 1994 whose two punt-return touchdowns against Pittsburgh in 1993 remain a Browns highlight.
  26. Josh Cribbs — ranked #2626
    Josh Cribbs
    Return specialist from 2005 to 2012 who scored eight kickoff-return touchdowns, tying the NFL record, and made three Pro Bowls.
  27. Joe Haden — ranked #2727
    Joe Haden
    Cornerback from 2010 to 2016 and two-time Pro Bowler who was the Browns' top cover man of the early 2010s.
  28. Joel Bitonio — ranked #2828
    Joel Bitonio
    Guard drafted in 2014 who made seven straight Pro Bowls and became one of the most dependable linemen in Browns history.
  29. Denzel Ward — ranked #2929
    Denzel Ward
    Cornerback drafted fourth overall in 2018 who has made multiple Pro Bowls as the leader of the Browns secondary.
  30. Gary Collins — ranked #3030
    Gary Collins
    Receiver from 1962 to 1971 who caught three touchdowns and was named MVP of the 1964 NFL Championship Game.
  31. Doug Dieken — ranked #3131
    Doug Dieken
    Left tackle from 1971 to 1984 who started 194 consecutive games and later spent decades as a Browns radio analyst.
  32. Jerry Sherk — ranked #3232
    Jerry Sherk
    Defensive tackle from 1970 to 1981 who made four Pro Bowls and was named NEA Defensive Player of the Year in 1976.
  33. Thom Darden — ranked #3333
    Thom Darden
    Safety from 1972 to 1981 who still holds the franchise record with 45 career interceptions and made the 1978 Pro Bowl.
  34. Mike Pruitt — ranked #3434
    Mike Pruitt
    Fullback from 1976 to 1984 who posted four 1,000-yard rushing seasons and made two Pro Bowls for the Browns.
  35. Dub Jones — ranked #3535
    Dub Jones
    Halfback from 1948 to 1955 who scored a record-tying six touchdowns in a single game against the Bears in 1951.
  36. Bill Nelsen — ranked #3636
    Bill Nelsen
    Quarterback from 1968 to 1972 who led the Browns to back-to-back NFL Championship Game appearances in 1968 and 1969.
  37. Phil Dawson — ranked #3737
    Phil Dawson
    Kicker from 1999 to 2012, the last original member of the reborn Browns and the franchise's second-leading scorer.
  38. Frank Gatski — ranked #3838
    Frank Gatski
    Hall of Fame center from 1946 to 1956 who anchored the offensive line through the Browns' title-winning dynasty of the 1940s and 1950s.
  39. Bobby Mitchell — ranked #3939
    Bobby Mitchell
    Halfback from 1958 to 1961 who shared the backfield with Jim Brown before his trade to Washington and a Hall of Fame career.

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