An original version of this article was published September 1, 2015 by Steve King
The Legacy Runs Deep in Cleveland
While modern football fans — and even some in the media — are often captivated by what they see now, it’s easy to forget that excellence in the NFL didn’t begin with today’s superstars. That point was made clear once again on ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike” morning show, where hosts Mike Greenberg and Cleveland native Mike Golic recently praised the Green Bay Packers for their quarterback lineage: Brett Favre followed by Aaron Rodgers, spanning 23 years of elite play.
Greenberg called it “the longest span any team has ever had of continuous excellence at any position.”
But is it?
Not if you know your Cleveland Browns history.
A Hall of Fame Line of Running Backs
Between 1946 and 1973, the Browns boasted three Hall of Fame running backs — Marion Motley, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelly — covering all but three seasons of that entire span.
- Jim Brown, widely regarded as the greatest player in NFL history, needs no introduction.
- Marion Motley revolutionized the position with his power and speed in the late 1940s.
- Leroy Kelly seamlessly carried the torch through the 1960s.
That’s nearly three decades of elite-level performance from the backfield — unmatched in football history.
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Cleveland’s Kicking Game: A Model of Consistency
From 1946 through 1995 and then again from 1999 to 2012, the Browns essentially had only five primary kickers — and all were top-tier:
- Lou Groza – Hall of Famer and namesake of the NCAA’s top kicker award
- Don Cockroft – Steady and reliable throughout the 1970s
- Matt Bahr – Clutch, including playoff heroics
- Matt Stover – Future Pro Bowler who would later excel with the Ravens
- Phil Dawson – Perhaps the best of them all, beloved by Browns fans for two decades
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Left Tackles Worth Remembering
From 1946 through 1984 — nearly four decades — the Browns were equally strong at left tackle:
- Lou Groza doubled as a legendary tackle and kicker.
- Dick Schafrath, a six-time Pro Bowler, is often overlooked and deserves Hall of Fame consideration.
- Doug Dieken, now a fan-favorite broadcaster, held down the position with consistency and class.
That level of dominance across three key players at such a critical position is incredibly rare.
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Perspective Matters
Yes, the Packers’ back-to-back quarterback excellence is remarkable. But Cleveland’s own runs at running back, kicker, and left tackle span decades of Hall of Fame-level talent — a legacy that deserves more attention.
The next time you hear someone mention Rodgers and Favre, just respond with three names:
Jim Brown. Lou Groza. Doug Dieken.
And now you know.
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