1959 Cleveland Browns season

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1959 Cleveland Browns season
1959-Browns-mediaguide.jpg
General manager Paul Brown
PresidentDave R. Jones
Head coachPaul Brown
Home field Cleveland Stadium
Local radio WGAR
Results
Record7–5
Division placeT–2nd NFL Eastern
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers Art Hunter, C
Lou Groza, LT/K
Bob Gain, DE
Walt Michaels, LB
Jim Ray Smith, G
Jim Brown, FB

The 1959 Cleveland Browns season marked the team's tenth year in the National Football League (NFL) and 14th season overall.

Contents

Future Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown rushed for 1,329 yards, leading the league for the third straight year, and 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Milt Plum, who was drafted by the Browns in the 1957 draft, made his mark at the position. The Browns had been looking for a replacement for Otto Graham ever since the Hall of Famer retired—for the second time—following the 1955 season. They finally found him when Plum, a second-round draft pick in 1957, threw for 14 touchdowns with just six interceptions. However, the Browns would finish just 7–5 in 1959, the second in what would turn out to be a string of six straight seasons in which the Browns had decent to very good teams without qualifying for the postseason. The 7–5 record was also the second worst record since head coach Paul Brown's tenure with the team.

Preseason

GameDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceSources
1August 11at Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–340–1 Forbes Field 27,432 [1]
2August 22vs. Detroit Lions L 3–90–2 Rubber Bowl (Akron, Ohio)22,654
3August 30at San Francisco 49ers L 14–170–3 Kezar Stadium 24,737 [2]
4September 5at Los Angeles Rams W 27–241–3 LA Memorial Coliseum 55,883
5September 13at Detroit Lions L 28–311–4 Briggs Stadium 33,435 [3]
6September 19 Chicago Bears W 33–312–4 Cleveland Stadium 25,316 [4]
Note: September 19: Night game.

Regular Season

In 1959 the Browns offered seats at four price levels. Reserved seats were available at $4.50, $3.50, and $2.50, depending on location, and general admission seats were available for a league-low price of $1.50. [5] Reserve season tickets for the six game home slate cost $27, $21, and $15, respectively. [5]

GameDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecapSources
1September 26at Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–170–1 Forbes Field 33,844 Recap
2October 4at Chicago Cardinals W 34–71–1 Soldier Field 19,935 Recap
3October 11 New York Giants L 6–101–2 Cleveland Stadium 65,534 Recap
4October 18 Chicago Cardinals W 17–72–2 Cleveland Stadium 46,422 Recap
5October 25 Washington Redskins W 34–73–2 Cleveland Stadium 42,732 Recap
6November 1at Baltimore Colts W 38–314–2 Memorial Stadium 57,557 Recap
7November 8 Philadelphia Eagles W 28–75–2 Cleveland Stadium 58,275 Recap
8November 15at Washington Redskins W 31–176–2 Griffith Stadium 32,266 Recap
9November 22 Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–216–3 Cleveland Stadium 68,563 Recap
10November 29 San Francisco 49ers L 20–216–4 Cleveland Stadium 56,854 Recap
11December 6at New York Giants L 7–486–5 Yankee Stadium 68,436 Recap
12December 13at Philadelphia Eagles W 28–217–5 Franklin Field 45,952 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Saturday night game: Sept. 26.

Standings

Program for the November 29 game against the visiting San Francisco 49ers. 591129-Browns-49ers-program.jpg
Program for the November 29 game against the visiting San Francisco 49ers.
NFL Eastern Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
New York Giants 1020.8338–2284170W4
Philadelphia Eagles 750.5836–4268278L1
Cleveland Browns 750.5836–4270214W1
Pittsburgh Steelers 651.5456–4257216W1
Washington Redskins 390.2502–8185350L5
Chicago Cardinals 2100.1672–8234324L6
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Western Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
Baltimore Colts 930.7509–1374251W5
Chicago Bears 840.6676–4252196W7
San Francisco 49ers 750.5835–5255237L2
Green Bay Packers 750.5836–4248246W4
Detroit Lions 381.2732–8203275L1
Los Angeles Rams 2100.1672–8242315L8
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Personnel

Team photo of the 1959 Cleveland Browns. 1959-Browns-teamphoto.jpg
Team photo of the 1959 Cleveland Browns.

Roster

1959 Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

rookies in italics

[6]

Staff/coaches

1959 Cleveland Browns staff
Front office

Coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Strength & conditioning

  • Athletic trainer – Leo Murphy
  • Equipment manager – Morris Kono

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References

  1. ↑ Jimmy Miller, "Steelers Find That Fullback: Krutko Looks Like Answer to Parker's Problem," Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Aug. 12, 1959, p. 22.
  2. ↑ Ed Jacoubowsky, "49ers Hit Road After Win," Redwood City Tribune, Aug. 31, 1959, p. 6.
  3. ↑ George Puscas, "Shakes of '57: Lions 31, Browns 28: Rote Hits Johnson for Pair, We Wipe Out 28–17 Deficit," Detroit Free Press, Sept. 14, 1959, pp. 41, 44.
  4. ↑ Chuck Heaton, "Browns Win in Final Seconds, 33–31: Trip Bears on Groza's Long Boot," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 20, 1959, pp. 1C, 8C.
  5. 1 2 E.J. O'Malley, "Purchasing NFL Tickets: A Guide to Ticket Information," Sports Forecast, vol. 2, no. 2. Chicago: E.J. O'Malley Publishing Co., 1959; p. 78.
  6. ↑ "1959 Cleveland Browns Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
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