Who are the 10 best players in Browns history?

Younger fans may not believe it, but the Cleveland Browns are one of the most storied franchises in football history.

The Browns had one of the most dominant periods in professional sports in their first 10 seasons as a franchise, winning four AAFC titles before capturing an NFL title in three of their first six seasons in the league. The Browns added another NFL title in 1964 before the merger, as they consistently remained one of the league’s best teams throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Cleveland nearly reached those same heights again in the 1980s, but hasn’t won a title since its last victory in 1964. Still, there have been many great players who have made their way in Cleveland throughout their careers.

But who are the best players to ever play for the Browns? Here’s the top 10, via FOX Sports Research.

10. Clay Matthews Jr. (1978-1993)

Decades before his son became a star for the Green Bay Packers, Clay Matthews Jr. also took down opposing quarterbacks on several occasions. He spent most of his standout 19-year career in Cleveland, with 1,561 career tackles unofficially ranking him third most all-time. He led the league in tackles four times with the Browns. He was also a Pro Bowler in four seasons during his time in Cleveland, and some of those years coincided with his trips to the AFC Championship Game. He also made one of the biggest plays in Browns history when he intercepted Jim Kelly at the goal line to help beat the Buffalo Bills in the 1989 postseason.

Garrett was arguably the main reason the Browns rose from the bottom of the league to making a pair of playoff appearances in a four-year span. After being selected by the Browns with the first pick in the 2017 draft, Garrett has consistently been among the league’s best pass rushers. He has recorded at least 10 sacks every year since his sophomore season, earning five Pro Bowl nods. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, when he recorded 14 sacks and four forced fumbles to help Cleveland reach the postseason. He leads the league in sacks in 2024 (14) entering the final week of the regular season, and is set to finish in the top 10 in sacks for the sixth time in eight seasons.

8. Paul Warfield (1964-1969, 1976-1977)

Most NFL fans probably connect Warfield’s Hall of Fame career to his time with the Miami Dolphins, where he won two Super Bowls. But he also had a productive career with the Browns, the first team he was a part of. He had 52 receptions for 920 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie in 1964, and moved to wide receiver after the team drafted him. He played running back in college, and some thought he would play defensive back in the NFL. The Browns won an NFL title that year, their final championship season. Warfield led the NFL in touchdown receptions four years later with 12. He earned three Pro Bowl nods throughout his career with the Browns, and opted to rejoin the franchise after playing in the WFL for one year.

7. Dante Lavelli (1946-1956)

Lavelli was one of the great players in Browns history and joined the team through a tryout during training camp before its inaugural season. He immediately formed a strong connection with Otto Graham, leading the AAFC in receptions (40) and receiving yards (843) during his rookie season. That year marked the first of four consecutive AAFC titles for the Browns before the league disbanded. However, Lavelli continued his dominance when the Browns entered the NFL, leading them to three titles. He caught 11 passes and two touchdowns in the Browns’ first NFL title win, helping him earn the nickname “Mr. Clutch.” He also helped form the NFLPA a few years later, before his retirement.

6. Leroy Kelly (1964-1973)

The Browns were able to replace one Hall of Fame running back with another during the 1960s, and Kelly succeeded Jim Brown. Kelly, who initially backed up Brown before taking the reins as the Browns’ starting running back, had three straight 1,000-yard years as he became Cleveland’s leading rusher. He led the league in rushing touchdowns all three years and led the league in yards and yards per carry twice. He also finished in the top five in MVP voting each year and earned six consecutive Pro Bowl nods, helping the Browns reach the NFL Championship Game twice after Brown’s retirement.

5. Ozzie Newsome (1978-90)

Newsome has had an incredibly strong career as a front-office executive for the Baltimore Ravens. But he had even more accomplishments as a player, becoming one of the greatest tight ends of all time playing with the Browns in the 1980s. While helping the Browns reach the AFC Championship Game three times, Newsome was named Pro Bowler three times throughout his career. He spent all 13 seasons of his NFL career with the Browns, recording 662 receptions for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns. At the time of his retirement, Newsome had the most receptions and receiving yards for a tight end, helping him become a Hall of Famer.

4. Joe Thomas (2007-2017)

Thomas may never have been part of a good Browns team, but not many players in league history were as good as him throughout their careers. The Hall of Fame offensive tackle was a Pro Bowler in each of his first 10 seasons, as he became the first player to play 10,000 consecutive snaps on his side of the ball. However, that streak came to an end in his final season, when he tore his triceps in 2017. That ended up ending Thomas’ career, leaving the game as one of the most respected offensive linemen in league history.

3. Lou Groza (1946-69; 60-67)

While many might associate Groza’s greatness with his kicking ability, he was also a standout offensive tackle for the Browns in their first few seasons as a franchise, playing that position for their first three NFL championships. Joining the team in its inaugural season, Groza also helped the Browns win four AAFC titles, setting a record for the longest professional field goal made during that time. Groza was named a Pro Bowler nine times during his career, leading the NFL in field goal percentage five times. He also held the NFL scoring record at the time of his second retirement in 1967.

2. Otto Graham (1946-55)

Every dynasty needs a great quarterback. Graham played that role for the Browns, instantly turning Cleveland into one of the best organizations in professional sports when he joined it for its inaugural season. Graham helped the Browns win four AAFC titles before leading them to three NFL championships, winning a title in seven of his 10 seasons. Since there were questions about whether Graham and the Browns’ dominance would translate from the AAFC to the NFL, he immediately dismissed them. He led the Browns to a title in his first year in the NFL before winning the first of three NFL MVPs a year later. He also led the NFL in passing twice, touchdown passes once and completion percentage three times.

1. Jim Brown (1957-65)

The Browns might have had the two best pre-merger players in NFL history playing for their franchise. Just two seasons after Graham’s consistent and dominant reign in Cleveland ended, Brown provided the same for the Browns. Brown was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro (eight first team) in all nine of his professional seasons, establishing himself as the top running back in NFL history at the time. While he led the league in rushing in all but one season of his career, Brown won the MVP three times, winning it in seasons in which he also led the league in rushing touchdowns. Brown finally won his first and only title in 1964, his penultimate season in the league. He retired with the record for rushing yards (12,312), which would not be broken until 19 years after his retirement. But his 104.3 rushing yards per game are still the most in NFL history.

Honorable mentions:

• Frank Gatsky
• Mike McCormack
• Marion Moley
• Ford only
• Bill Willis
• Joe De Lamielleure
• Phil Daws

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]