Just a week before the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns turned back the clock with their new uniforms.
With the new jerseys, the team looks to connect all Browns past and present:
True to ourselves.
True to our loyal fans.
True to who we’ll always be.https://t.co/VwRW3sfRSx pic.twitter.com/HbQYZQEu9N— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 15, 2020
Here are three thoughts about the new Browns uniforms:
1. Five-Stripe Sleeves
The five-stripe sleeves are notably incorporated into the new uniforms:
Back to basics.
How to buy » https://t.co/qCSJPLGNVw pic.twitter.com/9wyJ6j6Gk1
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 15, 2020
A nod to the past.
How to buy » https://t.co/qCSJPLGNVw pic.twitter.com/b34PrphYkI
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 15, 2020
The five-striped sleeves brought lifelong Browns fans back to the “good old” days of Cleveland football.
In 1964, franchise rushing leader Jim Brown and the Browns reigned.
In their last championship season, the Browns went 10-3-1 in their classic five-stripe sleeve jerseys.
Blanton Collier’s Browns destroyed Don Shula’s Baltimore Colts, 27-0, in the NFL Championship at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
At halftime of the December 27 contest, the teams were scoreless.
Then, the Browns all-time scoring leader Lou Groza got the scoring underway with a 43-yard field goal.
Brown rushed for 114 yards on 27 carries in the game, while quarterback Frank Ryan went 11-for-18 for 206 passing yards and three touchdowns.
All three of Ryan’s touchdown passes went to Gary Collins, who caught five passes for 130 yards.
Cleveland’s defense dominated in the shutout, as the Browns intercepted Johnny Unitas twice and held him to 95 yards on 12-for-20 passing.
2. 1946
The Browns were founded in 1946, which was the first of four consecutive All-America Football Conference (AAFC) championship seasons for the organization.
The Browns remained in Cleveland from 1946 to 1995, and “1946” is featured on the inside of the jersey collars.
The “1946” is the perfect way to celebrate Hall of Famers Paul Brown, Otto Graham, Marion Motley, and Dante Lavelli.
Brown, the winningest coach in franchise history, went 158-48-8 in his Browns career.
In the Browns’ first season, they won their first seven games in franchise history.
Cleveland dropped the next two contests, both of which were at home, but the team bounced back.
The Browns then won the final five games of the season, including a 66-14 season finale victory against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Then, Cleveland won the AAFC, 14-9, against the New York Yankees.
The Browns were 3-0 against the football Yankees in 1946.
Graham led the AAFC with 17 passing touchdowns over the course of the season.
Lavelli led the AAFC with 40 receptions and 843 receiving yards in 1946.
Starting in 1946 and through the 1960s, Cleveland was one of football’s most successful franchises.
The new Browns uniforms help embrace those roots.
3. Baker Mayfield Was Impressed With The New Uniforms
In an Instagram video released on Wednesday, Baker Mayfield showed that he was very impressed with the new jerseys:
The starting quarterback is looking to improve upon his second consecutive season of six wins.
He is excited about the fresh look that Cleveland will have.
The new uniforms will hope to bring a new connection to the NFL championship teams of 1950, 1954, 1955, and 1964.
The uniforms are not the only new aspect of the 2020 Browns.
The team has new head coach Kevin Stefanski and new general manager Andrew Berry.
Stefanski, Cleveland’s fourth coach in the last three years, made many changes.
There are several new coaching hires like the team’s first female coach Callie Brownson.
Maybe the new uniforms, coaches, and general manager will give the team that extra boost to get their first 10-win season since 2007.
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