{"id":71011,"date":"2023-01-11T22:28:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T22:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/?p=71011"},"modified":"2023-03-07T19:41:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T19:41:54","slug":"cleveland-browns-logo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/brand-stories\/cleveland-browns-logo\/","title":{"rendered":"CLEVELAND BROWNS LOGO: History, Meaning, Evolution","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It may interest you to know that the Cleveland Browns are an NFL football team representing the city of Cleveland in the NFC North division of the NFL and were founded in 1948. In 1945, industrialist Arthur B. Bride and coach Paul Brown founded the franchise. The franchise is currently owned by Jimmy Haslam, and the value of the Browns was estimated at $2.35 billion in 2020. For more than 50 years, the only thing that has changed about the Cleveland Browns logo is a small detail. For more information, this article will guide you through the history of the new and old Cleveland Browns logo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Cleveland Browns Logo<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new Cleveland Browns logo is the elf. They have made Brownie the Elf their new midfield logo at FirstEnergy Stadium before their home opener against the Jets on Sunday. In an online poll, fans could choose which logo would be used for home games during the 2023 NFL season. Brownie was chosen as the winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cleveland Browns?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Cleveland Browns are a member of the American Football Conference North. Since 1950, they have been members of the NFL; prior to that, they were a part of the All-America Football Conference. Arthur Bertram Modell opted to relocate the club to Baltimore, but he left all of the Browns’ logo history in Cleveland, so there was a little lull in the team’s storied past during that time. It wasn’t until 1999 that the original franchise was brought back into existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Old Cleveland Browns Logo <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In more than 70 years, the Cleveland Browns have had seven logos. One of them was never used. You can divide their whole history into two parts\u2014before 1969 and after 1969. The first time period is the so-called Brownie Elf era, in which artist Dick Dugan drew in a cartoon style and was “awarded” with a soccer ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The longest part is the second one. It started when the team put the first orange helmet emblem on in 1970. This version went through a few changes. The developers were looking for a modern design so that the sports that were drawn looked like they did in real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1948 \u2013 1958 Cleveland Browns Logo<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The original character, Brownie Elf, is on the Cleveland Browns logo. Its name is a play on words: “Brownie” sounds like the team’s nickname, “Browns.” The picture was made by the artist Dick Dugan, who later worked for the Cleveland Plain Dealer as a sports cartoonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elf stands up, and in his left hand, he holds a football. A crown is a sign of power, and it’s on his head. The figure is facing leftward. All of the shapes have a dark border with jagged edges. The style of animation is shown in the way this logo is made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1959 \u2013 1969 Cleveland Browns Logo<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brownie Elf changed in 1959. He turned to the right, the crown on his head was replaced by a cap, and he held the football in his right hand. His clothes turned black and orange, and his arms and face turned white. Shadows, which are common in animated pictures, were taken away. The character is shown in a rough way, without much detail, and is outlined in black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1965 (Unused)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When Art Modell bought the Cleveland Browns, he thought the team’s logo was too childish, so he got rid of it. A new logo was made in the middle of the 1960s. It was a dark orange helmet with a white stripe on top and a black outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This athletic gear is shown from the side. It has a grey faceguard and a brown “CB” with white trim, which stands for the city and the team’s nickname, the Cleveland Browns. There are no curves in the font. This version of the team’s logo was never used in a game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1970 \u2013 1985 Cleveland Browns Logo<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After the AFL and NFL merged in 1969, the football club got rid of the funny Brownie Elf. In 1970, they used a logo that looks like the one from 1956 that wasn’t used. There were only small changes: three grey dots were taken away, the black outline on the inside was made wider, and the facemask became white. They got rid of the “CB” wordmark because the Cleveland Browns stopped putting the team logo on the helmets and made it their own thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1986 \u2013 1991 Cleveland Browns Logo<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The new logo for the Cleveland Browns is a 34 view instead of the usual side view. We were able to draw the facemask in detail and in three dimensions by changing the angle. The depth is made clear by the dark lines that run along the white fixtures. On top of the helmet, there are two white and two grey stripes. The color of orange got one shade darker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1992 \u2013 2005 Cleveland Browns Logo<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1992, another change to the Cleveland Browns’ logo was given the green light. The shape of the facemask was brought up to date by designers. The colors didn’t change; they just got less bright. In the lower part, a round, white ledge was added as a new element.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2006 \u2013 2014 Cleveland Browns Logo<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2006, the Cleveland Browns stopped using those boring colors and went back to orange. The only change to this logo is that the facemask is now gray. The stripes didn’t change in terms of their shapes, sizes, or thickness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015 \u2013 Today<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The helmet has changed a lot since 1970 when the current logo was first used. The people who made it tried to keep the most important parts, like the two black and white stripes at the top. Also, they stuck to the original color scheme, which was mostly bright orange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015 was the year when the current brand name was chosen. It shows the same helmet that has become an important part of the players’ gear and an important part of the Cleveland Browns’ visual identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of the Cleveland Browns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

let’s go through the history of the Cleveland browns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1946\u20131949: The Founding of the AAFC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to history, Arthur B. “Mickey” McBride, a businessman, started the Cleveland Browns in 1946. They were one of the first teams in the All-America Football Conference. Not long after McBride bought the team, he put Ohio State coach Paul Brown in charge as vice president, general manager, and head coach. In 1945, there was a contest to name the team. The most popular name was “Browns,” which was chosen to honor Paul Brown, who was already well-known and popular in Ohio sports. Brown at first didn’t like the name, so the team chose the name “Panthers” from the contest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a local businessman told the team that he owned the name Cleveland Panthers from a failed football team in the past, so the name was changed to Browns. How they chose the Browns is unknown. Paul Brown gets credit from the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the NFL Encyclopedia. The team’s media relations office says the name is a condensed form of Joe Louis’ nickname, Brown Bombers. A 1946 contest yielded the name. Brown used his connections to the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Navy (where he coached during World War II) to build the biggest network of recruiters in pro football at the time. He utilized it to assemble a talented NFL squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otto Graham, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Mac Speedie, Marion Motley, and Bill Willis. The Browns won four AAFC titles. In 1948, they were the first team to go an entire season without losing or tying. This was 24 years before the Miami Dolphins’ perfect season. Cleveland won 29 straight, including two ties. They won 18 straight games and the 1947 and 1948 AAFC titles. The Browns only lost four games during the AAFC. They challenged NFL teams but were always rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1950\u20131956: Joining the NFL<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The AAFC collapsed following the 1949 season, and the NFL agreed to take three of its clubs for the 1950 season. The Browns’ first NFL game came against the defending champs. At the time, many believed the Browns were a minor league powerhouse at best. The Browns were determined to join. They destroyed the Eagles’ defense for 487 yards and a 35\u201310 triumph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Browns continued where they left off in the AAFC behind Graham, Motley, and Dante Lavelli. After finishing 10\u20132, they beat the Giants 8\u20133 in a playoff game and the Rams (now in Los Angeles) 30\u201328 in the NFL Championship Game. Since the NFL doesn’t recognize AAFC records, the Cleveland Browns logo is the most successful expansion team in sports history. 1950 Browns weren’t an expansion team. The next year, the Browns went 11-1 and rematched the Rams in the final game. In the fourth quarter, Rams quarterback Norm van Brocklin threw a 73-yard touchdown throw to Tom Fears. First championship loss for the Browns, 24\u201317.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1952, Cleveland went 8\u20134 and played the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game. Doak Walker’s 67-yard touchdown run helped the Lions beat the Browns 17\u20137. Ray Renfro had 722 receiving yards and 322 rushing yards that season. The Browns won 11 straight games in 1953 before losing to the Eagles in the last week and to the Lions in the 1953 Championship Game. This year’s game was closer. Lou Groza’s two field goals placed Cleveland ahead 16\u201310 in the fourth quarter. With less than two minutes left, Detroit quarterback Bobby Layne delivered a 33-yard touchdown throw to Jim Doran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1957\u20131965: the Jim Brown Era<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jim Brown, the Browns’ all-time leader in rushing yards, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1957, the Browns picked Syracuse fullback Jim Brown, who quickly became the NFL’s leading rusher (and NFL Rookie of the Year) with 942 yards in 12 regular-season games. With a division-leading 9\u20132\u20131 record, they returned to the Championship Game versus Detroit. In a 59\u201314 thrashing, the Lions caused six turnovers and allowed the Browns’ two quarterbacks (Tommy O’Connell and Milt Plum) to throw for only 95 yards. This was the Lions’ last league triumph to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1958, Jim Brown rushed for 1,527 yards, nearly twice as many as any other running back. This was the first of seven 1,000-yard seasons in his legendary career. The Browns needed a win or a tie against the New York Giants in the final week of the regular season to earn the Eastern Conference title and the opportunity to host the Championship Game. On the first play of the game, Brown sprinted 65 yards to give Cleveland a 7-0 lead. In the fourth quarter, the Browns held a 10-3 lead over the Giants, but the Giants tied the game, and Pat Summerall’s 49-yard field goal in deteriorating weather circumstances sealed the victory for the Giants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following week, in a playoff game between the same two teams, the deflated Browns were held to zero points of offense, Brown was limited to eight yards rushing, and the team committed four mistakes in a 10\u20130 loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art Modell Assumes Ownership (1961)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1961, Art Modell bought the team from David Jones, who had previously purchased it from McBride in 1953. McBride had originally owned the franchise. The tension that began to build between Art Modell and Paul Brown as they competed for control of the company was costly. According to the journalist D.L. Stewart, who is quoted in Going Long, a book written by Jeff Miller on the AFL. However, “You can probably guess that Jimmy Brown and Paul did not have a lot in common.” The word on the street was that Jimmy had Modell working for him, and Paul took offense to the rumor.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from that, the season was rather ordinary. Jim Brown had his sixth straight season in which he led the league in receiving yards, and the team had a solid showing in the standings. However, at 8\u20135\u20131, they were still two games off of a spot in the championship. After Paul Brown finished 1962 with a record of 7\u20136\u20131, Modell sacked him on January 9, 1963, and one week later, he was replaced by Blanton Collier, who had been his longtime assistant. When Brown took over as head coach, many of the Browns’ younger players, including Jim Brown and Frank Ryan, chafed under Brown’s authoritarian teaching approach. In contrast, Collier handled the club with a much looser grasp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also gave Ryan the ability to call his own plays and constructed an offense that was considerably more open. During Collier’s first year as head coach of the Browns, the team started the year by winning their first six games. However, the team suffered a severe midseason collapse that ultimately cost them the Eastern Division title as they finished one game behind with a record of 10-4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blanton Collier Era (1963\u20131970)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Cleveland Browns have won their second NFL championship (1964)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1964, the Browns went 10-3-1 and won their first championship in seven years. They beat the strongly fancied Baltimore Colts 27-0, with receiver Gary Collins collecting three touchdown passes and earning MVP honors. (As of 2011, this was the city of Cleveland’s most recent sports championship.) The following year, again, the Browns made it to the Super Bowl, but this time they lost to the Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jim Brown’s final game in a Browns uniform would be in the 1965 championship game. Due to production delays, Brown was still in England filming scenes for The Dirty Dozen at the start of the ensuing training camp. Brown announced his retirement from football on July 14 in order to focus on his burgeoning acting career. With the development of third-year running back Leroy Kelly, the Browns were able to mitigate the impact of Brown’s departure. Kelly would rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of the next three seasons, leading the league in the last two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After missing the playoffs in 1966, the Browns bounced back with a 9-5 record the following year. In the first round of the playoffs, however, the Dallas Cowboys beat them quickly, 52-14. The Browns avenged themselves on the Cowboys in the playoffs the following two seasons, winning 30-21 and 38-14. Both teams won, but then they lost badly, which kept them from making it to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Logos and Uniforms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

#1. Logos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The only team in the NFL without a logo on their helmets is the Browns. But the team has used different logos to promote itself over the years, like the “Brownie Elf” or a Brown “B” in a white football. Art Modell got rid of the Brownie Elf in the mid-1960s because he thought it was too childish, but the new owner has brought it back. The Browns’ helmet got a brown “CB” logo from NFL Creative Services in 1965. There was never a game that used it. Finally, a brown and orange dog is frequently utilized for Browns events because of the fervor of the Dawg Pound area of Cleveland Browns Stadium. But overall, the orange helmet without a logo is still the most recognizable thing about the Cleveland Browns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2. Uniforms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The original designs of the jerseys, pants, and socks have mostly stayed the same over the years, but the helmets have changed a lot in big ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n