The last time the Browns played the San Francisco 49ers, on Oct. 30, 2011 at Candlestick Park, Phil Dawson kicked a 52-yard field goal in a 20-10 loss.

If he kicks any field goals on Sunday when the two teams meet again — and he likely will – then they will be for the 49ers as he returns to Cleveland for the first time since leaving the Browns following the 2012 season

It will be great to see Dawson back in town. He’s one of the nicest players the Browns have ever had, and the best kicker they’ve ever had – yes, even better than Pro Football Hall of Famer Lou Groza, Matt Bahr, Don Cockroft and Matt Stover, the other members of the greatest lineage of kickers for any team in NFL history.

Dawson is doing what he did during his 14 seasons with the Browns – that is, hit field goals with alarming accuracy. He has made 18 of 19 attempts this season, or 94.7 percent. His career percentage over 17 seasons is 84.6, making him one of the best kickers of his era – or any era, really.

But I feel sorry for Dawson. The only member of the 1999 expansion Browns still playing anywhere in the NFL, he wanted to re-sign with the club following the 2012 season and remain in Cleveland, which he dearly loved. But “The Genius,” then Browns President Joe Banner, made absolutely no effort to even negotiate with Dawson’s agent.

So Dawson regrettably started shopping his wares and, not surprisingly, didn’t have any problem finding a job, landing in San Francisco for the 2013 season. It was a great opportunity for him. He wanted to win a Super Bowl in Cleveland, and although that never happened, he was going to have a good chance to do that in San Francisco. The 49ers had been re-charged under head coach Jim Harbaugh and were coming off a Super Bowl loss to Harbaugh’s brother, John, and the Baltimore Ravens. One of the only things the 49ers lacked was a stellar kicker, and now they had one in Dawson.

But it never worked out. In the next two years under Harbaugh, the 49ers finished 12-4 but lost in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs in 2013 and then went 8-8 last year and missed the postseason altogether.

Feeling he had worn out his welcome in San Francisco, Harbaugh departed to coach his alma mater, Michigan, following last season and the 49ers went into a rebuilding mode. They are 4-8 this year and headed nowhere fast. As such, Dawson finds himself in the same position he was in while with the Browns – that is, having no chance to get to the Super Bowl anytime soon, if ever, let alone win one.

Dawson deserves better. He deserves to go to the Super Bowl, and win. He’ll no doubt have strong emotions coming back to Cleveland, and here’s hoping – no expecting – that Browns fans will give him a long and loud welcome home cheer. He deserves that, too.

If Joe Banner ever returns to town, then he’ll get a rude welcome in boo-flat. And that’s something he deserves.