- Jim Brown won three NFL MVP awards, went to nine Pro Bowls, and led the league in rushing eight times.
- Otto Graham played 10 seasons of professional football and appeared in the championship in all of them (AAFC and NFL).
- Ozzie Newsome holds Browns records in receptions and receiving yards.
The Cleveland Browns joined the NFL in 1950 after spending time in the AAFC.
Throughout the franchise’s history, the Browns have won four AAFC Championships and four NFL Championships, but have yet to win a Super Bowl.
Today, NFL betting, including football odds for things such as games and whether the Browns will win the Super Bowl or not, are available at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
Here, I’ll also consider these all-time great players, listing who I believe are the top seven Browns players.
7 Best Cleveland Browns of All Time, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Browns Years |
| 1 | Jim Brown | RB | 1957-1965 |
| 2 | Otto Graham | QB | 1946-1955 |
| 3 | Ozzie Newsome | TE | 1978-1990 |
| 4 | Lou Groza | OT/K | 1946-1959; 1961-1967 |
| 5 | Dante Lavelli | WR | 1946-1956 |
| 6 | Paul Warfield | WR | 1964-1969; 1976-1977 |
| 7 | Gene Hickerson | OG | 1958-1973 |
Who Are the Greatest Browns Ever?
1. Jim Brown
Brown played in the NFL from 1957 to 1965, all with the Browns.
Drafted No. 6 overall in the 1957 NFL Draft, Brown is often considered one of, if not the greatest, running back of all time.
He was part of the 1964 NFL Championship team, won three league MVPs, was Rookie of the Year, was an eight-time All-Pro, a second-team All-Pro, made it to nine Pro Bowls, and led the league in rushing yards eight times, rushing touchdowns five times, and in scoring once.
He finished his career with 2,359 rushes for 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns. These are all Browns franchise records.
He’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. Otto Graham
Otto Graham played for the Browns his entire professional career from 1946 to 1955.
During that time, he won four AAFC championships and three NFL Championships. The Browns joined the NFL in 1950.
He won three NFL MVP awards, two AAFC MVP awards, was a four-time first-team All-Pro, three-time first-team All-AAFC, two-time second-team All-Pro, a second-team All-AAFC member, and went to five Pro Bowls.
He led the NFL in passing yards and passer rating twice, in passing touchdowns once, completion percentage three times, passing yards in the AAFC three times, passing touchdowns in the AAFC twice, and in completion percentage in the AAFC once.
He finished his Browns career with 23,584 passing yards (second in franchise history), 174 passing touchdowns (first), and 2,626 attempts (third).
Graham is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
3. Ozzie Newsome
Newsome is known to many fans today as a Baltimore Ravens executive and their former general manager, but before the Browns left town to become the Ravens and a new Browns team was installed there, Newsome played for the Dawg Pound as a tight end from 1978 to 1990.
During his career, he racked up 662 receptions for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns. His receptions and yards are Browns records, while his touchdowns rank fifth.
He was a two-time first-team All-Pro, a four-time second-team All-Pro, and went to three Pro Bowls. Newsome also won the Ed Block Courage and Byron “Whizzer” White NFL Man of the Year awards.
Newsome is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
4. Lou Groza
Groza played for the Browns for all but one year from 1946 to 1967. He initially retired following the 1959 season due to a back injury, but returned in 1961.
He played both offensive tackle and placekicker, a combination of positions that would be eye-popping by today’s standards.
Groza was named the Sporting News Most Valuable Player in 1954. With the Browns, he won four NFL Championships and four AAFC Championships.
He was a four-time first-team All-Pro and a second-team All-Pro, went to nine Pro Bowls, and led the NFL in scoring in 1957 and the AAFC in 1946.
Over his career, he attempted 481 field goals and made 264 of them. He made 810 extra points of 833, and his longest field goal was 53 yards. He’s second in Browns history in field goal attempts and second in made kicks.
Groza is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
5. Dante Lavelli
Playing end/wide receiver for the Browns from 1946 to 1956, Lavelli won three NFL Championships and four AAFC Championships with the team. He was a three-time first-team All-Pro, a second-team All-Pro, went to three Pro Bowls, and was the AAFC receiving yards leader in 1946 and was the co-leader in receptions that same year.
Lavelli finished his career with 386 receptions (second), 6,488 yards (second), and 62 touchdowns (second).
He’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. Paul Warfield
A wide receiver for the Browns from 1964 to 1969 before returning to play the final two years of his career there in 1976 and 1977, Warfield was part of the Browns’ 1964 NFL Championship team.
He also secured multiple accolades, including a second-team All-Pro nod, three Pro Bowls, led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 1968, and is in the Browns Ring of Honor.
In 97 games, he caught 271 passes (16th) for 5,210 yards (sixth) and 52 touchdowns (third).
7. Gene Hickerson
A guard for the Browns from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1973, Hickerson missed the 1961 season after he fractured his leg while watching a game from the sidelines.
He was a seventh-round pick out of Ole Miss in 1957, and during his time with the Browns, he won the 1964 NFL Championship, was a five-time first-team All-Pro, a two-time second-team All-Pro, and went to six Pro Bowls.
Today, he’s in the Browns Ring of Honor and enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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