The Cleveland Curse, it rolls off the tongue as if it was two words destined to be together. Like chocolate and peanut butter, or popcorn and butter. A simple Google search on the words “Cleveland Curse” brings up over 7.5 million results. The results you can find in Wikipedia alone is enough to make you blind from reading. And evidence of a curse on Cleveland sports franchises is abundant. “The Drive, The Fumble, Red Right 88, The Shot, The Catch, and The Decision” are just a few pieces of evidence that points to its existence. But what is not clear is the reason the curse began in the first place. What has happened in the history of Cleveland that has brought “the wrath from high atop the thing”. I have spent countless “seconds” researching this very topic and I have a few theories (Like TV execs giving Drew Carey his own show), but I would have to say that the curse started after the firing of Coach Paul Brown.
Paul Brown is one of the greatest coaches in football history. However, not many fans are truly aware of Brown’s legacy. Brown had success at all levels in coaching from high school, to college, and all the way to the NFL. Many do not even realize that Cleveland’s football franchise is named after him.
In 1945, Arthur McBride brought the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) team to Cleveland. He ran a newspaper contest to name the team and offered the winner a $1,000 war bond. Many suggested naming the team after Coach Paul Brown. Brown, in his time in Cleveland won 4 AAFC titles, 3 NFL titles, and 7 conference titles.
But all was not “lollypops” and “sunshine” for Brown in Cleveland. Differences between him and new owner Art Modell (who purchased the team in 1961) came to a head over player Ernie Davis and eventually led to Brown’s termination in 1963.
Many who believe in the “Cleveland Curse” site this moment as the beginning of the end for Cleveland sports teams. It seems it is in bad taste to fire the coach of a team who has had the team named after him. The Browns did win one last championship in 1964, however it was essentially the team that Paul Brown had built.
The firing of Brown was a mistake that Modell truly never lived down. Firing the “father” of the modern NFL offense may have cost Modell, and Cleveland many more NFL titles and chances to win in what would become “The Super Bowl Era”.
And Paul Brown was an individual you would never want to cross. He was well known for being a “Very” stubborn individual. My favorite and perhaps most prominent examples of Browns’ “mean streak” or “vindictive nature” came in 1950. Eagles head coach Greasy Neale dismissed the Browns' dominance of the Eagles' vaunted defense in the season opener by saying, "All they do is pass the ball." In the teams' subsequent meeting a few months later, the Browns set an NFL record that still stands to this day by attempting “NO” passes in a 13–7 win over the Eagles.
They say that hindsight is always 20/20. Maybe this is why when Modell took his franchise to Baltimore he did not seem to have an enormous problem with leaving the teams name, colors, and history behind. Maybe he knew if the now “Baltimore Ravens” had remained “The Browns”, they may not have ever won a Super Bowl. Maybe he knew better than any of us just how strong the curse really is. But perhaps now that the Ravens have their rings we can now attempt to move forward. Maybe if we can give a coach, and a team time and patience we can ensure that the curse is lifted. Or maybe, just maybe, by keeping the name “Browns” ,we will forever invite the wrath of Paul Brown, and the Cleveland Curse.
Michael W. Youngman
(Lead Analyst C.B.R.)
