Dee and Jimmy Haslam don’t have much patience with head coaches and general managers.
But they gave the horrendous Cleveland Browns uniforms introduced in 2015 every opportunity to win fans over.
It never happened.
Dee Haslam announced the team will sport a new look in 2020, expected to be unveiled before the April draft.
The Browns played with minor variations of the “new look” in the last few seasons.
The only uniform fans seemed to appreciate was the brown-on-brown color rush variety.
It’s hard to say if it was the orange and white trim on the dark uniform fans liked.
More likely, it was that the Browns were home victors three times in 2018, all while using the color rush option.
Browns make Color Rush uniforms their primary uniforms https://t.co/UmvwBcqrgn
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 4, 2019
Cleveland wisely petitioned the league for permission to use the less-offensive get-up more often in 2019.
But if there was any magic in the color rush uniforms in 2018, it ran out quickly.
Cleveland’s 43-13 opening weekend loss at the hands of the Titans was the first of four against two wins in the color rush combo.
It Was More Than the Wins
Fans still disliked the other options.
Cleveland was the only team to include the city’s name on their jersey.
It is emblazoned across the chest, just over the number.
They also included the name “Browns” down their pants leg where stripes would normally go.
🚨🚨🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨🚨🚨
Today is the last time we will ever have to watch the #Browns play in these god awful uniforms. pic.twitter.com/SgspwWCKvF— Eric (@illstr8r) December 29, 2019
In an era when simpler uniforms were coming into fashion, the Browns cluttered their look.
If there was any doubt the words were the cause of the fans’ dislike, the Jets provided some clarity.
New York became the second team to write their city’s name across the numbers.
Their uniform is an otherwise simple and sleek design.
The majority of Jets fans bashed the uniform immediately after the announcement.
Comparisons to Arena Football and movie versions of football teams filled social media.
Orange is the new Brown
One thing Cleveland followers liked about the recent uniform was the increased use of orange.
The team wore orange jerseys and orange pants several times.
They have yet to play in solid orange.
While the orange and brown combination is appreciated by fans, it is not loved by coaches and announcers.
The colors do not provide enough contrast to read numbers clearly.
White numbers on brown make identifying players easier.
That will affect the potential combinations coming up in the new uniforms.
But according to Tony Grossi of Fox Sports Ohio, the Browns aren’t looking for new color combinations.
Prior to draft. They will look like traditional Browns uni’s, been told. https://t.co/gJxiaF9Exe
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) January 4, 2020
Bringing Back Tradition
According to Grossi, the team will bring back the traditional Browns uniforms from the last century.
Cleveland used those uniforms as a link to their history when they returned from their hiatus in 1999.
One last thought on the @Browns next uniform change. I want too help out just encase the Haslams are confused by traditional look of the #Browns pic.twitter.com/U4UFEmIXYJ
— Tim Continenza (@TimContinenza) July 29, 2019
The most traditional uniform is the white or brown jersey with five stripes on each sleeve.
The stripes alternated orange and white and provided some flash.
Numbers were written in simple block format, front and back and on each sleeve.
The orange helmet with the white stripe shadowed in brown is the front runner for 2020.
Facemasks were grey in the Browns’ heyday.
The team could add an orange jersey or pants as an option, as well as use a variation of the color rush uniform as alternates.
A Quiet Return
Cleveland does not plan a big unveiling event for the 2020 uniforms.
Perhaps that supports the notion that the new style isn’t actually as new as it is traditional.
The Haslams could be keen to avoid any negative reviews like 2015, too.
Cleveland has gone 17-62-1 since the 2015 change.
Some see new uniforms as a minor, but important detail to turn the page on the memories those uniforms invoke.
Those memories start with the Johnny Manziel and end with ten losses wrecking a season of hope.
NEXT: Browns Guard Joel Bitonio Named 2nd Team All Pro
I’m cool with them going back to the classic colors. I was never into the changes they made with the jersey, and I’m glad they’re going to change it up again. I think they should change it up some, but still go back to the classic style
That’s what I always made Cleveland Browns so special just the way their uniforms were no logo on the helmet I wouldn’t mind seeing them going to wear the orange pants like back in the cardiac kids days don’t want to see me brown pants again and do love the traditional colors that’s what I grew up on
About time. Use grey face mask not white!!! GO BROWNS
Grey face mask is a horrible idea they already have to many different colors as it is that like asking the Steelers to put a grey face mask on and the team has no dam grey color nowhere else STUPID!!!
Brown face masks look dumb, white is okay but grey, by far, looks the best. Stoney doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about! Too many colors? They have two dummy, and you use the Steelers as an example? They have 4 colors in their ugly ass symbol. White looks corny like the 80’s. Also, learn how to spell, especially if you’re going to criticize someone else by calling them stupid.
Go back to the traditional uniforms!!
With no facemasks
Yeah, facemasks come with a winning record!
No! make are own tradition, the Jim Brown and sipe and Bernie had there era time 4 a knew and improved era
Omg…..the best decision the Haslams have made since being here…..now make sure there is no roof…not even a retractable one and never any cheerleaders as well…
I would like to C the BROWNS LEAVE THE ORANGE AND BROWN STRIPES OFF OF THE HELMETS!! THEY LOOK MEAN WITH OUT THE STRIPE!! LEAVE THEM ALL ORANGE!!
how about the color rush numbers use and 3 strips on each sleeve on brown shirts for home games with the traditional white pants with the skinny brown and white strip going down the leg. change the helmet to color rush with a skinny white strip only down the center of helmet. use gray face masks..for away games wear same pants and helmet as for home games the shirt would be white brown only onnumbers. brown only. stripes on the sleves. for alternate uni. use color rush color shirts with white numbers on center of front and back. no stipes on sleves just players numbers on both sleves in brown. . use the same pants and helment as above.
I hate the gray face mask. Keep the brown or white face mask
Definitely go back to the WHITE face masks!
No! make are own tradition, the Jim Brown and sipe and Bernie had there era time 4 a knew and improved era
for uniform pants I ment to say white pants skinny brown strip and skinny orange stripe going down the out side of each pant leg.
I loved the old uniforms! White pants and white shirt for home and brown jerseys for the road. These new uniforms are pathetic especially the all brown ones. And please never put a roof or artificial turf in Cleveland. Football is made to be played on grass and in the elements. And never put a logo on the pumpkin.
Give them old beat up 1970”s uniforms until they earn the right to wear new ones!
I like the brown jerseys with orange pants the best
As a fan I agree no roof is best. That said, having worked in numerous stadiums, the wear and tear of the elements is hard on the facilities and costs the organization money in upkeep other stadiums don’t incur. Ultimately, they then want/need a new stadium to stay current and attract players/fans. Who pays that? Largely taxpayers do. So at the end of the day I’d accept a roof for a long term commitment from the ownership and team. Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cleveland are all in the same spot with this.
We bleed brown and orange so that is what they should wear. Brown jerseys and orange pants. That’s what Bernie wore when they were good. That’s what I eventually want to see in the super bowl.
Bernie never wore the orange pants, Sipe did. The clean look of Bernie’s teams would be a return to our successful past. Back to pumpkin orange and seal brown would be awesome
Um. Bernie never wore the orange pants. That was Brian Sipe
Cleveland Browns
Seal Brown
Burnt Orange
Ghost Gray
Ivory White
TRADITIONAL
White jerseys…White pants
Brown jerseys…White pants
KARDIAC
White jerseys…Orange pants
Brown jerseys…Orange pants
ALTERNATE
White jerseys…Brown pants
Brown jerseys…Gray pants
Socks should have 5 stripes for each calf like the Chicago Bears
No plain colored socks like the rest of the NFL.
Gray facemasks on Orange helmets
Yes
Go Browns!!