Based in Cleveland, the Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team that plays in the American Football Conference (AFC) North division of the National Football League (NFL). Paul Brown, the team's original coach and co-founder, is honored by the team's name. Industrialist Arthur B. McBride established the team in 1944 as a founding member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), and it started playing in 1946.
The Browns play their home games at Huntington Bank Field, which opened in 1999. Their lack of a logo on their helmets sets them apart from the other 32 NFL member clubs. The Browns' 17-season playoff drought, which lasted from 2003 to 2019, came to an end in 2020. They are among the four teams that have never played in the Super Bowl.
Cleveland Browns Super Bowl appearances: How many Super Bowl appearances do the Browns have?
The Cleveland Browns have not yet made a Super Bowl appearance as of December 2024. Though they have appeared in five conference championships—in 1968, 1969, 1986, 1987 and 1989—but lost all. Further, in 39 playoff games, they have won 17 times and 22 times. But again, before 1966, Browns appeared in 13 championship games, winning eight of them.
The Browns won the AAFC championship each of the four seasons they played in, with a 47-4-3 record. They played in their league championship game in each of their first ten years of existence, winning seven of those games. They also won a championship in their first NFL season, as well as in the 1954, 1955, and 1964 seasons. This accomplishment is unmatched in any of the major professional sports in North America.
However, the Browns have been unable to succeed since 1999, particularly in the 2010s, when they failed to record a single winning season. They have only won one playoff game (2020), made three playoff appearances (2002, 2020, and 2023), had four winning seasons (2002, 2007, 2020, and 2023), and won less than one-third of their games overall.
The Cleveland Browns Conference Championships
The Cleveland Browns conference championships, after the AFL-NFL merger, are as follows:
| Year | Opponent | Result | Score |
| 1989 | Denver Broncos | Loss | 21-37 |
| 1987 | Denver Broncos | Loss | 33-38 |
| 1986 | Denver Broncos | Loss | 20-23 |
| 1969 | Minnesota Vikings | Loss | 7-27 |
| 1968 | Baltimore Colts | Loss | 0-34 |
The Cleveland Browns NFL Championships
The Cleveland Browns NFL championships before the AFL-NFL merger, in 1966, are as follows:
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result | Score |
| 1964 | Championship | Baltimore Colts | Win | 27-0 |
| 1958 | Division | New York Giants | Loss | 0-10 |
| 1957 | Championship | Detroit Lions | Loss | 14-59 |
| 1955 | Championship | Los Angeles Rams | Win | 38-14 |
| 1954 | Championship | Detroit Lions | Win | 56-10 |
| 1953 | Championship | Detroit Lions | Loss | 16-17 |
| 1952 | Championship | Detroit Lions | Loss | 7-17 |
| 1951 | Championship | Los Angeles Rams | Loss | 17-24 |
| 1950 | Division | New York Giants | Win | 8-3 |
| 1950 | Championship | Los Angeles Rams | Win | 30-28 |
| 1949 | Division | Buffalo Bills | Win | 31-21 |
| 1949 | Championship | San Francisco 49ers | Win | 21-7 |
| 1948 | Championship | Buffalo Bills | Win | 49-7 |
| 1947 | Championship | New York Yankees | Win | 14-3 |
| 1946 | Championship | New York Yankees | Win | 14-9 |
FAQs on Cleveland Browns
A. The Cleveland Browns were founded in 1946, making them one of the oldest football franchises with a rich history in the sport.
A. The Cleveland Browns play their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio.
A. As of the 2024 season, the head coach of the Cleveland Browns is Kevin Stefanski, who has been leading the team since 2020.
A. The Cleveland Browns have not won a Super Bowl, but they have a storied past with several NFL championships before the Super Bowl era.
A. The official team color of the Cleveland Browns is brown, along with orange and white accents.
