List of Cleveland Browns head coaches

Last updated

The Browns have played their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium since 1999. Cleveland National Air Show (43805784984).jpg
The Browns have played their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium since 1999.

The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are a member of the North Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The team began playing in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), and joined the NFL as part of the AAFC–NFL merger in 1950. [1] The team played their home games at Cleveland Stadium from 1946 to 1995 before moving to Cleveland Browns Stadium, where they have played since 1999. [2] The Browns did not play from 1996 to 1998 when the team's owner, Art Modell, moved the team to Baltimore, Maryland and formed the Baltimore Ravens. The team was reactivated under new ownership in Cleveland in 1999. [3] The Browns are currently owned by Jimmy Haslam III. [4]

Contents

There have been 18 non-interim head coaches for the Browns franchise. Their first head coach was Paul Brown, who coached for 17 complete seasons. [5] Brown is also the franchise's all-time leader for the most regular season games coached (214), the most regular season game wins (158), the most playoffs games coached (14), and the most playoff game wins (9). Brown is the only Browns head coach to win an AAFC championship, winning four. Brown and Blanton Collier have led the Browns to NFL championships. Brown won the Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year three times, the United Press International (UPI) NFL Coach of the Year once, [6] and was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach. [7] Five coaches have won Coach of the Year awards: Brown (1949, 1951, 1953, 1957), Forrest Gregg (1976), Sam Rutigliano (1979, 1980), Marty Schottenheimer (1986), and Kevin Stefanski (2020, 2023).

Since their reactivation in 1999, the Browns have had significant turnover at the head coaching position. Ten men have coached the Browns since 1999, and only two have reached the postseason: Butch Davis (2002) and Stefanski (2020 and 2023).

Key

#Number of coaches [N 1]
GCGames coached
WWins
LLosses
TTies
Win% Winning percentage
†Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach
‡Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player
*Spent entire NFL head coaching career with the Browns

Coaches

Note: Statistics are accurate through the 2023 season.
# [8] ImageNameTerm [N 2] Regular seasonPlayoffsAchievementsRef.
GCWLTWin%GCWLWin%
1 Paul Brown, American football head coach.png Paul Brown † 1946–1962 214158488.7671495.643Four AAFC championships (1946, 1947, 1948, 1949) [9]
Three NFL championships (1950, 1954, 1955) [10]
Seven NFL Conference championships (1950–55, 1957)

1949, 1951, and 1953 Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year [11]
1957 UPI NFL Coach of the Year [6]

[5] [7]
2 Blanton Collier* 1963–1970 11276342.691734.429NFL Champion in 1964
Four Eastern conference champions (1964, 1965, 1968, 1969)
Three Century Division Champions (1967,1968, 1969)
 [12]
3 Nick Skorich 1971–1974 5630242.556202.000AFC Central Division Champions 1971 [13]
4 Forrest Gregg ‡ 1975–1977 4118230.439———— 1976 Associated Press (AP) NFL Coach of the Year [14] [15]
– Dick Modzelewski* [N 3] 1977 1010.000———— [16]
5 Sam-Rutigliano-1979.jpg Sam Rutigliano* 1978–1984 9747500.485202.000 1979 and 1980 UPI NFL Coach of the Year [6]
AFC Central Division Champions 1980		 [17]
6 Marty Schottenheimer 2011 (cropped).jpg Marty Schottenheimer [N 4] 1984–1988 7144270.620624.333 1986 UPI NFL Coach of the Year [6]
Three AFC Central Division Champions (1985, 1986 and 1987)		 [18]
7 Bud Carson.jpg Bud Carson* 1989–1990 2511131.458211.500AFC Central Division Champions 1989 [19]
– Jim Shofner* [N 5] 1990 7160.143———— [20]
8 BBelichick.jpg Bill Belichick 1991–1995 8036440.450211.500 [21]
— [N 6] 1996–1998
9 Chris Palmer* 1999–2000 325270.156———— [22]
10 2018-0719-CUSAMD-ButchDavis.jpg Butch Davis* 2001–2004 5924350.407101.000 [23]
– Terry Robiskie 2013.jpg Terry Robiskie [N 7] 2004 5140.200———— [24]
11 Romeo Crennel 2005 (cropped).jpg Romeo Crennel 2005–2008 6424400.375———— [25]
12 Leslie Frazier, Bill Cowher, Ben Kotwica, Eric Mangini 2012 (cropped).jpg Eric Mangini 2009–2010 3210220.313———— [26]
13 Head Coach Pat Shurmur at Browns training camp.jpg Pat Shurmur 2011–2012 329230.281———— [27]
14 Rob Chudzinski 2013.jpg Rob Chudzinski* 2013 164120.250———— [28]
15 Mike Pettine (14748357667).jpg Mike Pettine* 2014–2015 3210220.313———— [29]
16 Hue Jackson (36729325286) (cropped).jpg Hue Jackson 2016–2018 403361.088———— [30]
– Gregg Williams (cropped).jpg Gregg Williams [N 8] 2018 8530.625———— [31]
17 Freddie Kitchens (49092990208).jpg Freddie Kitchens* 2019 166100.375———— [32]
18 Kevin Stefanski AUG2023 (cropped).jpg Kevin Stefanski* [N 9] 2020–present6737300.552312.333 2020 and 2023 AP NFL Coach of the Year [33] [34]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ A running total of the number of coaches of the Browns. Thus, any coach who has two or more terms as head coach is only counted once. Interim coaches are not included.
  2. ↑ Each year is linked to an article about that NFL season.
  3. ↑ Gregg was fired thirteen games into the 1977 season. Modzelewski served as interim head coach for the remaining game.
  4. ↑ Rutigliano was fired eight games into the 1984 season. Schottenheimer served as interim head coach for the remaining eight games before being promoted to full-time head coach.
  5. ↑ Carson was fired nine games into the 1990 season. Shofner served as interim head coach for the remaining seven games.
  6. ↑ The Browns did not play from 1996 to 1998 due to events in the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy. [3]
  7. ↑ Davis resigned eleven games into the 2004 season. Robiskie served as interim head coach for the remaining five games.
  8. ↑ Jackson was fired eight games into the 2018 season. Williams served as interim head coach for the remaining eight games.
  9. ↑ During the 2020–21 NFL playoffs, Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer served as the acting head coach in the wild-card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning the game. Stefanski tested positive during Week 15 of the 2021 season, with Priefer again serving as acting head coach against the Las Vegas Raiders, losing the game.

Notes

General
Specific
  1. ↑ "Year By Year Season Results". Cleveland Browns . NFL Enterprises LLC. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Cleveland Browns Stadium". Cleveland Browns. NFL Enterprises LLC. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Henkel 2005 , p. 111
  4. ↑ "Cleveland Browns – Front Office". January 20, 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Paul Brown". Pro Football Reference . Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 27, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Hickok, Ralph (April 17, 2008). "NFL Coach of the Year Award". Hick OK Sports. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Paul Brown". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ Interim head coaches are not included in the numbering.
  9. ↑ "Cleveland Browns". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  10. ↑ "History: NFL Champions". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 27, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  11. ↑ "NFL Coach of the Year". Sporting News. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Blanton Collier". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Nick Skorich". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  14. ↑ "AP NFL Coach of the Year Winners". The Washington Post. January 8, 2005. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Forrest Gregg". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 18, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Dick Modzelewski". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Sam Rutigliano". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Marty Schottenheimer". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Bud Carson". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 30, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Jim Shofner". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Bill Belichick". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Chris Palmer". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Butch Davis". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Terry Robiskie". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Romeo Crennel". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Eric Mangini". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Pat Shurmur's Coaching Record". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  28. ↑ "AP Source: Browns Hire Rob Chudzinski as New Coach". abcnews.go.com . AP. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Mike Pettine Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  30. ↑ Cabot, Mary Kay (January 13, 2016). "Hue Jackson hired as Cleveland Browns' 8th head coach since 1999". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  31. ↑ Laine, Jenna (October 29, 2018). "Browns fire head coach Hue Jackson, offensive coordinator Todd Haley". ESPN. espn.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  32. ↑ Patra, Kevin (January 9, 2019). "Browns promote Freddie Kitchens to head coach". NFL. nfl.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  33. ↑ Gordon, Grant (January 12, 2020). "Browns hire Kevin Stefanski as next head coach". NFL. nfl.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Kevin Stefanski Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2024.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Cowher</span> American football player, coach, and analyst (born 1957)

William Laird Cowher is an American sports analyst, former football player and coach. Following a six-year playing career as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL), he served as a head coach in the NFL for 15 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He began his coaching career as an assistant under Marty Schottenheimer for the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs, serving as the latter's defensive coordinator from 1989 to 1991. In 1992, Cowher was named head coach of the Steelers, whom he led until his retirement following the 2006 season. After retiring, he joined The NFL Today as a studio analyst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Len Ford</span> American football player (1926–1972)

Leonard Guy Ford Jr. was an American professional football player who was an offensive and defensive end from 1948 to 1958. He played college football for the University of Michigan and professional football for the Los Angeles Dons, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976 and the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Schottenheimer</span> American football player and coach (1943–2021)

Martin Edward Schottenheimer was an American football linebacker and coach who served as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons. He was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1984 to 1988, the Kansas City Chiefs from 1989 to 1998, the Washington Redskins in 2001, and the San Diego Chargers from 2003 to 2006. Eighth in career wins at 205 and seventh in regular season wins at 200, Schottenheimer has the most wins among the league's head coaches to not win an NFL championship. After coaching in the NFL, he won a 2011 championship in his one season with the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League (UFL). He was inducted to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Callahan (American football)</span> American football coach (born 1956)

William E. Callahan is an American football coach who is the offensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders for the 2002 and 2003 seasons and led them to Super Bowl XXXVII. He was also the head coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2004 to 2007 and the offensive line coach and interim head coach for the Washington Redskins from 2015 to 2019. Callahan is considered to be one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Rutigliano</span> Former collage and NFL head coach (b. 1931)

Sam William Rutigliano is an American former football coach who is a television football analyst for WEWS, the ABC affiliate in Cleveland. He served as the head coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 to 1984, compiling a record of 47–50. Rutigliano was the head football coach at Liberty University from 1989 to 1999, tallying a mark of 67–53.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abe Gibron</span> American football player and coach (1925–1997)

Abraham Gibron was an American professional football player and coach. Gibron played 11 seasons as a guard in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL) in the 1940s and 1950s, mostly with the Cleveland Browns. He was then hired as an assistant coach for the NFL's Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears before becoming head coach of the Bears between 1972 and 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dub Jones (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1924)

William Augustus "Dub" Jones is an American former professional football player who was a halfback for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and the old All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily for the Cleveland Browns. He shares the NFL record for touchdowns scored in a single game, with six.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stump Mitchell</span> American football player and coach (born 1959)

Lyvonia Albert "Stump" Mitchell is an American football coach and former player who last served as the running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He served as head football coach at Morgan State University from 1996 to 1998 and Southern University from 2010 to 2012, compiling an overall college football record of 14–42. Mitchell played collegiately at The Citadel and thereafter was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a running back and return specialist for the Cardinals from 1981 to 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Darden</span> Former American football player (born 1950)

Thomas Vincent Darden is an American former professional football player who was a safety and punt returner for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). The Ohio native is memorable for important plays in both the Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry and the Bengals–Browns rivalry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Cleveland Browns</span>

The history of the Cleveland Browns American football team began in 1944 when taxi-cab magnate Arthur B. "Mickey" McBride secured a Cleveland, Ohio, franchise in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Paul Brown, who coach Bill Walsh once called the "father of modern football", was the team's namesake and first coach. From the beginning of play in 1946 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the Cleveland Browns were a great success. Cleveland won each of the AAFC's four championship games before the league dissolved in 1949. The team then moved to the more established National Football League (NFL), where it continued to dominate. Between 1950 and 1955, Cleveland reached the NFL championship game every year, winning three times.

The 1978 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 29th season with the National Football League (NFL). After nearly three years of struggling offensively – and not making the playoffs—while posting just one winning record under ultra-strict, disciplinarian head coach Forrest Gregg, the Browns in 1978 decided to take a softer approach to liven up their attack – and their team. They did so by hiring a virtually unknown assistant at the time, New Orleans Saints receivers coach Sam Rutigliano, to replace Gregg, who was fired with one game left in the 1977 season. Rutigliano was the fourth head coach hired by Art Modell in his 18 years as club owner to that point, and it marked the first time Modell had not promoted from within the organization to fill the spot.

The 1980 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 35th overall, and 31st season in the National Football League. The Browns finished the regular season with eleven wins and five losses, and their first division title since 1971, winning a tiebreaker with the Houston Oilers. The 1980 Browns were known as the Kardiac Kids for having several games decided in the final moments. The 1980 season was the first time that Cleveland had qualified for the postseason since 1972. Also, for the second straight year, Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano was named NFL Coach of the Year, and quarterback Brian Sipe was named the league's Most Valuable Player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Priefer</span> American football coach (born 1966)

Mike Priefer is an American football coach who was the special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He has almost two decades of pro coaching experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Stefanski</span> American football coach (born 1982)

Kevin Lawrence Stefanski is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He began his NFL career as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2006 to 2019 and was the offensive coordinator during his final two seasons. Stefanski left Minnesota to become the Browns' head coach in 2020, where he led the team to their first playoff appearance since 2002. He was named NFL Coach of the Year after the season, becoming the first Browns coach to receive the honor since 1976 and the first following the franchise's 1999 return as an expansion team. He led the Browns to a second playoff appearance in 2023 and won a second NFL Coach of the Year award for his work that season.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.