Brownies Welcome You to the New-Look Dawg Pound

By Peter Mann

Of the dozen franchises not to win a Super Bowl, four have also not made it to the grandest stage of all – Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and the Cleveland Browns, with the latter having undergone something of a rebirth in the late nineties.

Once a dominant feature of the old, AAFC (All-America Football Conference) and NFL Championship eras, pre-1970, when the Browns claimed four championships in both, and eleven conference titles, the AFL-NFL merger proved to be something of a death knell for the franchise nicknamed, quite simply, ‘The Brownies.’

Having been founded in the early summer of 1944, by co-founder and from whom the franchise is named, Ohio-native, Paul Brown (1908-91), the Brownies would be seen to win four consecutive AAFC Championships (1946-49) then four NFL Championships (1950, 1954, 1955, 1964).

Throughout the heady days of the fifties and sixties, this franchise also claimed an impressive eleven, conference titles, lifting the NFL American/NFL Eastern 1950-55, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1968, and 1969 – life was great at the Cleveland Municipal Stadium, their home for some five decades.

Since then, however, and following the ‘move’ into the present-day, NFL, any hopes and dreams of success across initially the AFC Central, and more recently, the AFC North, has been hard to come by – although the eighties did see five Central titles.

The last though, that came back in 1989, and there’s been just four appearances in the playoffs since; being in the famed, Dawg Pound, in the east end of the Huntington Bank Stadium, has certainly been testing times to say the least.

No Divisional Title Since '89, But Glimmers Of Hope

The last time the Browns won the division was way back in the late-eighties, under Bud Carson’s guidance, and those old, AFC Central days; the Browns were 9-1 that season, won their divisional playoff against Buffalo Bills, before losing out to Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game – it was at the time a fifth successive run to the post-season. 

Under the legendary Bill Belichick they again returned to the playoffs five years later, this time falling to divisional rivals, Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoff, and, within two years, they were no more, the team upping sticks and moving to Baltimore, becoming the franchise now known as Baltimore Ravens, in the mid-nineties.

The Browns returned in ’99 but again, didn’t really light up anything, finishing sixth in consecutive seasons, then third, in the final throes of the AFC Central; they’d fare no better in the new-look AFC North either, pitting themselves against bitter rivals Baltimore Ravens, alongside Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

They are still to win the AFC North, and on only three occasions have they finished in second place, claiming the wooden spoon on seven consecutive occasions, between 2011-17, but the arrivals of defensive end and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, in 2017, and Kevin Stefanski as head coach, in 2020, saw the fortunes of the Brownies change for the better.

Garrett & Stefanski Begin Returning Browns' Fortunes

A first round draft pick by the Browns, from Texas A&M Aggies, defensive end Myle Garrett brought a sense of stability and security to the defense, putting in nine-years service for the franchise.

Twice a Defensive Player of the Year, a five-time First Team All Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, Garrett registered 137 appearances, posting relative impressive numbers of 412 tackles, 121.5 sacks, 23 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, and 18 pass deflections; in week fourteen of the 2021 regular season he’d also be seen to register the only touchdown score of his career, against Baltimore Ravens.

In both 2023 and 2025, Garrett would be the named the NFLs Defensive Player of the Year, doing so first having led the Browns to the league’s best defensive record and forcing a career high in forced fumbles, then followed it up last season he became only the second player to win the award unanimously, in doing so having nailed a record, 23 sacks during the season.

Meanwhile, on the touchline, Kevin Stefanski replaced Freddie Kitchens, who, like his predecessor Gregg Williams, had only been at the helm for a season, signing a five-year contract two days after his former employers, Minnesota Vikings, had lost in the NFC playoffs.

His first season at the helm, 2020, would see him being the first Browns head coach to lead the franchise to a winning season since Romeo Crennel, thirteen years previous, and would take them into the playoffs in two of his first four seasons.

That first season, in the playoffs, Stefanski and the Browns would dismiss rivals Pittsburgh Steelers, 48-37 at Heinz Field, as quarterback Baker Mayfield posted 263yds, 3TDs (pass), connecting with Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, and Austin Hooper.

Four years later, and Garrett’s first, record breaking campaign, Stefanski’s Browns showed up impressively in weeks ten and eleven, against the Ravens (won 33-31) and Steelers (won 13-10) respectively; DeShaun Watson posted 213yds, 1TD (pass), Kareem Hunt 32yds, 1TD (rush), and Garrett with 1.5 sacks in the former, and Jerome Ford with 31yds, 1TD (rush), and Garrett adding a pair of sacks in the latter.

They however came up short, 14-45, in the Wild Card playoff at Houston Texans, and from which they never really recovered, posting 3-14, and 5-12 losing seasons over the last two, the latter despite Stefanski having been signed to a contract extension the previous summer.

In early January this year, the Browns parted ways with Stefanski, he’s now head coach at Atlanta Falcons, and which’ll make for an interesting sidebar to the meeting at Huntington Bank Field in mid-December.

Several months later and the Browns’ MVP player, Garrett, was also leaving for pastures new, he being traded to Los Angeles Rams, a trade which included defensive end Jared Verse coming to Cleveland, and three draft picks over the next three years (2027-29).

During his six-year tenure as head coach, Stefanski posted a 45-56 record, and two playoff berths, and with it the most wins in the Huntington Bank hot seat since Crennel’s tenure (24-40, 2005-08), and the first to make the playoffs since Butch Davis did so in 2002, before losing to the Steelers.

Time will tell now how the new-look Browns will handle the loss of both their head coach, and the star defenseman…

New Era In Cleveland; Todd Monken Looks To Build On What's Gone Before

They say that, the more things change, the more things stay the same, similar could be said of the Browns’ quarterback room going into 2026 regular season as new head coach, Todd Monken, looks to get the best out of his team.  

DeShaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will be battling it out for QB1, along with Dillon Gabriel and sixth round draft pick, Taylen Green backing them up; the Brownies’ two main running backs, Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson are coming off the back of rookie seasons last time out, Judkins alone adding seven touchdown scores.

Then there’s the wide receivers, and sturdy tight end or two, with the youth of Malachi Corley adding to the experience of veterans Jerry Jeudy and Tylan Wallace, and the talented pairing picked up in the draft, KC Concepcion (first round from Texas A&M Aggies), and Denzel Boston (second round from Washington Huskies).

That experience of Jeudy and Wallace will bring much to the Browns offence, the former, having arrived in Cleveland from Denver, has himself posted 1831yds, 6TDs (rec) in his two seasons alongside a franchise record for most single season receptions (90) in his first season, 2024, there.

Wallace arrived from Baltimore earlier this year and, like Corley, Concepion and Boston, will add much to the offense, despite only 305yds, 2TDs (rec), 382yds, 1TD (rush) with the Ravens; gametime will aid an increase in his numbers.

At tight end meanwhile, the Browns drafted Carsen Ryan from BYU Cougars and is expected to slot in as an able back-up, challenge, for Harold Fannin Jnr and Blake Whiteheart, the former heading into his second season in Cleveland, and the latter his third following a brief spell in Arizona.

Meanwhile, the new man in the hot seat, Todd Monken, arrives having been the offensive coordinator at Baltimore (previous at the Browns in the same role in 2019), and further experience in coaching offense in the NFL with Jacksonville Jaguars (2007-10), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-18).

The Browns’ Managing and Principal Partners, Dee and Jimmy Haslam, said in a statement on behalf of the franchise about the appointment that; “We are very excited to name Todd Monken the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

“Todd is highly intelligent, and his experienced, innovative offensive mindset has been at the forefront of constructing productive and successful offenses at the NFL and collegiate level over the last 20 years.

“He is an outstanding leader and has a clear vision to lead our team as a strong communicator who values trust with his players but also accountability and preparation.

“In our committee’s exhaustive reference work on Todd, his commitment to player development was evident, and his tough and straightforward coaching is respected by the players and the coaches he’s worked with, putting our team in a position to succeed while developing our players to maximize their talents.

“We welcome Todd, Terri, and the rest of the Monken family back to the Browns and look forward to him establishing the winning culture that will lead our team to the success our fans so deserve.”

Monken’s experience, near four decades worth across college football and the NFL, is added to other coaching changes on the backroom staff with Travis Switzer (previously with Ravens 2017-25) coming in as offensive coordinator and Mike Rutenberg (previously with Jaguars 2013-19; San Francisco 49ers 2020; New York Jets 2021-24; and Atlanta Falcons 2025) as defensive coordinator, along with Byron Storer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2007-11; San Diego Chargers 2012-13; Las Vegas Raiders 2018-21; and Green Bay Packers 2022-25) on special teams.

Garrett Who? Can The Browns Defense Raise The Bar Set By Their MVP?

A defense shorn of Myles Garrett? No problem, honestly….

With a new DC in Mike Rutenberg, along with the additions of Jared Verse (DE), Justin Jefferson (LB), and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S), the Brownies still have plenty in the tank to compensate.

Carson Schwesinger was the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year having posted 156 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 2 interceptions in his rookie season, alongside fellow rookie Easton Masceranas-Arnold, an undrafted free agent last year, and the experienced Quincy Williams who’s had seven years in the NFL with Jaguars and Jets combined (2019-25), and the latter.

Other standouts include that of defensive tackle Mike Hall Jnr, center Denzel Ward, and defensive end Alex Wright; they’ve got plenty in depth to make a go of it, it’s just a case of whether they click from the off.

Hall will be looking to kickstart his Browns NFL career, whilst Ward has eight seasons and over 100apps in Cleveland dating back to his 2018 first round draft pick from Ohio State Buckeyes, whilst Wright will be hoping his recent playing on injury reserve doesn’t scupper him as much as the torn triceps of 2024 did.

Should the Browns’ defence, under Rutenberg and Schwesinger, click straight away, the Dawg Pound will see foundations being laid in which they can build upon, and hopefully push towards what would be a rare, winning season…

Huntington Bank Field Prepares For The 2026 Season - After Road Games

It won’t be until week three of the 2026 season that the Dawg Pound will see the Brownies take to Huntington Bank Field, Todd Monken’s charges starting things off with two road games, at Jacksonville Jaguars (13 September) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20 September), before Carolina Panthers are the first in town at the end of this month, followed by divisional rivals, Pittsburgh Steelers, in early October.

Mid-October sees a trip to New York, and the Jets (11 October), before the hosting of another divisional rival in Baltimore Ravens (18 October), closing the month out at the Tennessee Titans (25 October).

November begins with two more road, the return with the Steelers (1 November), then at New Orleans Saints (8 November), before hosting Houston Texans in the middle of the month ahead of their bye week, in week eleven.

The closing stages of the regular season have another three games at their Huntington Bank home, following up the game against the Texans with the visits of Las Vegas Raiders (29 November), Cincinnati Bengals (6 December), and Atlanta Falcons (13 December).

As for the festive season, and into the New Year, the Brownies will close proceedings with three road games in four outings, back-to-back at New York Giants (20 December) and Baltimore Ravens (27 December) coming either side of Christmas, then a home game against Indianapolis Colts (3 January) seeing in the New Year, before finishing off at Cincinnati Bengals, the Brownies, hoping, perhaps praying even, that Monken et al can better the past two, losing seasons, and who knows, a first divisional title in a generation…

PETER MANN

NFL ANALYST

PETER IS A LIFELONG SPORTS FAN, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR BASED IN COUNTY DURHAM. HE HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL AND THE RAIDERS SINCE THE 1980s, AND LOVES BOTH SPORTS AND FAMILY HISTORY. PETER HAS A DEGREE IN SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, AND CAN BE FOUND ON TWITTER @petermannwriter

 
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