Cleveland Browns Unveil 75th Anniversary Logo

The Cleveland Browns revealed a special logo on Friday that commemorates the 75th anniversary of their founding.

2020 was an unforgettable season that forged a new team culture.

2021 opens a new chapter as we celebrate our 75th anniversary.

Forging the Road Ahead » https://t.co/2jFookuMY2 pic.twitter.com/6GQdC4vyzo
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 29, 2021

Founded by former Massillon Washington and Ohio State football coach Paul Brown and Cleveland businessman Arthur B. McBride in 1946, the Browns were an original member of the All-American Football Conference. They were the AAFC’s most-successful team, winning four straight championships before the league folded.

Cleveland joined the NFL in 1950 and won the league championship in their first season, as well as in 1954, 1955 and 1964. It marked a period of significant success for the Browns, who won or played for the league championship in their first ten years of existence.

The franchise fell into a brief period of mediocrity in the 1970s, but reached the AFC Championship Game on three occasions in the late-1980s, where they fell to the Denver Broncos each time.

After another disappointing stretch in the 1990s, then-owner Art Modell announced plans to move the team to Baltimore, where they became the Ravens. The franchise was required to leave the Browns’ name, colors, logos and history in Cleveland for a future expansion franchise that would begin play in 1999.

The Browns have mostly struggled this century, but are now coming off their first playoff appearance in 18 years and first playoff victory in 26 years. Cleveland fell in the Divisional Round to then eventual AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs, however.

“As we turn the page on the 2020 season, we’re back to work, starting the next chapter for our 75th anniversary,” Browns executive vice president and co-owner J.W. Johnson said in a video released by the team. “In (head coach Kevin Stefanski’s) words, it’s ‘about the work,’ ‘never being satisfied’ and ‘we want more.’

“The season was exciting, but the best is yet to come.”

As for Cleveland’s circular anniversary mark, it is white with orange and brown outlines and prominently displays the helmet used by the Browns as their primary logo from 1970-85, albeit with a gray two-bar facemask. It also features “Cleveland Browns” and “75th Anniversary” in brown text above and below it.

The helmet is flanked by an orange and browns striping pattern with the white text “Est.” on the left side and “1946” on the right side, which can also be seen on the inside collar of the Browns’ jersey. There are four starts on each side to represent the aforementioned AAFC and NFL championships.

Photo courtesy of the Cleveland Browns.