1962 Cleveland Browns season

Last updated

1962 Cleveland Browns season
1962-Browns-mediaguide.jpg
Head coach Paul Brown
Home stadium Cleveland Stadium
Radio partner WERE
Results
Record7–6–1
Division place3rd NFL Eastern
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers Bob Gain, DT
Mike McCormack, RT
Bill Glass, DE
Jim Brown, FB
Galen Fiss, LB
Jim Ray Smith, G
All-Pros
4

The 1962 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 13th season with the National Football League. It was the last with Paul Brown as head coach, as Art Modell fired him on January 9, 1963. One week later, Blanton Collier was named the second head coach of the Browns.

Contents

Exhibition schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceSources
1August 11at Detroit Lions L 14–170–134,241
2August 18 Pittsburgh Steelers W 33–101–0 Cleveland Stadium 77,683
3August 25vs. San Francisco 49ers W 34–272–1 Multnomah Stadium
(Portland, OR)
27,161
4September 1at Los Angeles Rams W 26–243–143,118
5September 7at Chicago Bears W 28–244–157,878

There was a doubleheader on August 18, 1962, Cowboys vs Lions and Steelers vs Browns.

Schedule

GameDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecapSources
1September 16 New York Giants W 17–71–0 Cleveland Stadium 81,115 Recap
2September 23 Washington Redskins L 16–171–1 Cleveland Stadium 57,491 Recap
3September 30at Philadelphia Eagles L 7–351–2 Franklin Field 60,671 Recap
4October 7 Dallas Cowboys W 19–102–2 Cleveland Stadium 44,040 Recap
5October 14 Baltimore Colts L 14–362–3 Cleveland Stadium 80,132 Recap
6October 21at St. Louis Cardinals W 34–73–3 Busch Stadium 23,256 Recap
7October 28at Pittsburgh Steelers W 41–144–3 Pitt Stadium 35,417 Recap
8November 4 Philadelphia Eagles T 14–144–3–1 Cleveland Stadium 63,848 Recap
9November 11at Washington Redskins L 9–174–4–1 D.C. Stadium 48,169 Recap
10November 18 St. Louis Cardinals W 38–145–4–1 Cleveland Stadium 41,815 Recap
11November 25 Pittsburgh Steelers W 35–146–4–1 Cleveland Stadium 53,601 Recap
12December 2at Dallas Cowboys L 21–456–5–1 Cotton Bowl 24,226 Recap
13December 9at New York Giants L 13–176–6–1 Yankee Stadium 62,794 Recap
14December 15at San Francisco 49ers W 13–107–6–1 Kezar Stadium 35,274 Recap
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Week 1

The Browns gave a record opening-day crowd of 81,115 at Cleveland Stadium something to remember in a 17–7 victory over the Giants. The game's most memorable play is a flea-flicker that set up a 29-yard Lou Groza field goal. Quarterback Jim Ninowski hands the ball to Jim Brown, who hands to receiver Ray Renfro, who hands the ball back to Ninowski, who completes a 53-yard pass to Rich Kreitling.

Week 2

Bobby Mitchell, traded by coach Paul Brown to Washington during the offseason, haunts his old team by scoring the winning touchdown in a 17–16 Redskins victory at Cleveland. With the Browns leading 16–10 late in the fourth quarter and trying to run out the clock, Jim Brown fumbles, giving the Redskins possession near midfield. Norm Snead throws a short pass to Mitchell, who races for the go-ahead touchdown. The Browns get two shots at a final-minute game-winning field goal, but both of Lou Groza's attempts are blocked.

Week 5

The Browns are beaten decisively by the Colts 36–14 at Cleveland Stadium. The Browns do not get a first down until the Colts had a 23–0 lead. Jim Brown had his worst rushing total ever: 11 yards on 14 attempts, with seven of those yards coming on one carry.

Week 8

In one of the uglier games played at Cleveland Stadium, the Browns and Philadelphia Eagles combine for eight turnovers and five missed field goals in a 14–14 tie. Jim Brown finishes with 69 rushing yards on 20 carries, his seventh consecutive game with fewer than 100 yards.

Week 11

Jim Brown, ending the longest 100-yard drought of his career at nine games, pounds for 110 in a 35–14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Stadium. Frank Ryan complements Brown by throwing for 284 yards and three touchdowns.

Week 14

In what would be the final game of Paul Brown's Cleveland coaching career, the Browns beat the San Francisco 49ers, 13–10 at Kezar Stadium. The Browns avoid their second losing season but cannot save their coach's job. Needing 139 yards for another 1,000-yard campaign, Jim Brown falls just short, ending the year at 996. Although Brown fails to win a rushing title for the first time in his career, he does lead the team in receiving for the first time, catching 47 passes for 517 yards and five touchdowns.

Standings

NFL Eastern Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
New York Giants 1220.85710–2398283W9
Pittsburgh Steelers 950.6438–4312363W3
Cleveland Browns 761.5386–5–1291257W1
Washington Redskins 572.4174–6–2305376L1
Dallas Cowboys 581.3854–7–1398402L2
St. Louis Cardinals 491.3084–7–1287361W2
Philadelphia Eagles 3101.2313–8–1282356L2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Western Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
Green Bay Packers 1310.92911–1415148W3
Detroit Lions 1130.78610–2315177L1
Chicago Bears 950.6438–4321287W2
Baltimore Colts 770.5005–7293288W2
San Francisco 49ers 680.4295–7282331L2
Minnesota Vikings 2111.1541–10–1254410L3
Los Angeles Rams 1121.0771–10–1220334L3
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Personnel

Roster

1962 Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

rookies in italics

[1]

Staff

1962 Cleveland Browns staff
Front office

Coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Strength & Coditioning

  • Athletic Trainer - Leo Murphy
  • Equipment Manager - Morris Kono

References

  1. "1962 Cleveland Browns Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com .