Baltimore Relocation Hiatus
Cleveland kept the Browns' name, colors, and history after the 1995 relocation.
The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began play in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1950 after the AAFC dissolved. The team is named after its first coach, Paul Brown.
Quick Facts
- Period
- 1996–1998
- Owner involved
- Art Modell
- New franchise
- Baltimore Ravens
- Key advocate
- Jim Brown
- Return year
- 1999
- History status
- Retained in Cleveland
Lore & Background
In 1995, owner Art Modell announced he was relocating the Browns to Baltimore, sowing outrage and bitterness among Cleveland's fan base. Negotiations and legal battles led to an agreement where Modell was allowed to move the team, but Cleveland kept the Browns' name, colors, and history. After three years of suspension while the old stadium was demolished and Cleveland Browns Stadium built in its place, the Browns started play again in 1999 under new owner Al Lerner.
Reader's Guide
The last game before the relocation was a regular-season game on December 17, 1995, at Jacksonville; the Browns did not play on December 24, 1995.
Did You Know?
- The Browns are only one of 12 NFL franchises to predate the 1960 launch of the American Football League.
- The Browns are only one of three such teams in the AFC.
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