Hometown pride never really fades. Players can spend their whole careers in another city and win championships for another franchise, yet still light up when the team they grew up with finally gives them something to celebrate. That feeling runs especially deep for anyone raised in Cleveland, where good football seasons have been rare. One of the city’s most famous sons let it all out on national television this week.
NFL on ESPN shared Jason Kelce’s passionate take on the Browns.
“The Cleveland Browns are the top of the AFC North. That’s right! You would’ve never thought it. I’m from Cleveland. We’ve been waiting for this moment, fellas, and we’re finally here. Despite all the controversies at the quarterback position, people questioning Todd Monken, the Browns are Browning in the right way now. We’re 4-2. We just beat the Ravens. That never happens. We’re taking it by storm, Cleveland! Nobody thought this was gonna happen, but here we are. They’re actually competent. Not flashy. Not dominant. Just the Cleveland Browns, baby,” Kelce said.
Cleveland native @JasonKelce had a lot to get off his chest after the Browns' 4-2 start 😭 pic.twitter.com/UNHxQDUcT1
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 19, 2026
Kelce’s excitement mirrors what Browns fans across Northeast Ohio are feeling. He grew up in Cleveland Heights and became one of the best centers of his generation, winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he has never hidden where his football loyalties started.
His line about the Browns finally doing things the right way sums up this season. For years, the franchise was defined by quarterback drama, coaching turnover and late-season collapses. This team has had its share of controversy, but the results have been different.
The quarterback debate he mentioned dominated the offseason. Todd Monken chose Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders despite heavy fan support for the younger quarterback, and the decision looked shaky after the 34-10 loss in Jacksonville. Watson now leads the NFL with 4 game-winning drives.
Beating Baltimore carried extra weight as well. The Ravens have controlled this rivalry for much of the modern era, and Sunday’s win, even without Lamar Jackson on the field, moved Cleveland to the top of the AFC North. The Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Ravens are all 4-2, but Cleveland holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over both.
His enthusiasm also shows how quickly the perception of this team has changed. Most projections had the Browns near the bottom of the league this year, and now one of the most recognizable voices in football is celebrating them on national television.
The Browns visit the Tennessee Titans on Sunday with a chance to keep it going. If they keep winning the way Kelce described, without the flash but with plenty of grit, Cleveland fans could be enjoying this feeling well into the winter.
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