WHEN JIM BROWN RETIRED, WHAT WOULD – WHAT COULD — THE BROWNS DO?
By STEVE KING
As I pointed out in my last post, there were two Browns whose departures were earthshaking, just like that of LeBron James from the Cavaliers last Sunday night.
The first, as I mentioned, was Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Graham, who retired for a second time – and for good – following the 38-14 win over the Los Angeles Rams in 1955, giving the Browns their seventh title in 10 straight league championship game appearances in their first 10 years of existence dating back to 1946.
What would the Browns do without Graham, who seemed to be at the top of his game, including throwing for five touchdowns and running for four more in leading the club to one-sided victories in the last two championship games? Who could possibly replace him?
In the eight seasons after Graham’s retirement, the Browns played in just one title game, in 1957, and lost it in resounding fashion to the Detroit Lions, 59-14. That defeat, in particular, was due in large part to lousy quarterback play. It was a sign of things to come. It would be until 1963, when Frank Ryan took over as the full-time starter, that the Browns began getting consistently great performances at quarterback.
Everybody thought the Brows would have the same kind of trouble at running back replacing Jim Brown after he surprisingly retired just prior to the start of training camp in 1966. Brown, who is unquestionably the best football player – at any position – of all-time, was only 30 years old and, like Graham, appeared to be at the height of his greatness. In his final three seasons from 1963-65 he had, in order, rushed for a then NFL-record 1,863 yards and 12 TDs while averaging 6.4 yards a carry; rushed for 1,446 yards and seven scores with a 5.2 average as the Browns won the 1964 title; and ran for 1,544 yards and 17 TDs with a 5.3 average. Indeed, he wasn’t slowing down by any means.
But Brown retired anyway. He had other things he wanted to do in his life.
The Browns were obviously concerned. Who would follow Brown? He told the club not to worry, that a young back by the name of Leroy Kelly, who had spent most of his first two seasons in Cleveland returning punts, would do a great job. Brown was right.
In those first three post-Brown years of 1966-68, Kelly began showing off the form that would land him in the HOF with Brown by leading the league in rushing yards every season while running for 42 TDs.
