In more ways than one, these Browns jersey numbers don’t even come close to adding up.

I thought my head was going to explode recently when I came upon all the attention given to the fact quarterback Dillon Gabriel gave up his No. 8 to new defensive and Jared Verse, who wore the number with his former team, the Los Angeles Rams. One story described this as breaking news. Are you kidding me? This is the state of media in our sports world in 2026. Talk about a sophomore approach! Yikes!!

I am glad Verse got his old number back. To be honest, I couldn’t care less what number Gabriel wears. This is not Roman Gabriel, but Dillon Gabriel. The only thing they have in common is that they both play quarterback. He doesn’t really figure into the Browns plans this season Verse certainly does. So, then, why all the hubub over Gabriel taking 6? Whoopdeedo! Who cares?

Instead, here are 20 facts, in no particular order, about Browns jersey numbers — of the past, that is — that are a little more interesting and significant. Yes, these numbers do add up. Check ‘em out.

1) Otto Graham wore No. 60 and then switched to 14 when the numbering system in the NFL was changed in 1952.

2) Bill Willis also wore 60, and 45, before switching to 30.

3) John Wooten wore 60 as well, as did Bob Babich.

4) Lou Groza started out wearing 46 and switched to 76.

5) Don Fleming wore 46 and it is one of the five numbers that have beenretired by the Browns.

6) Marion Mötley started out with 76 and then changed to 36.

7) Jim Brown were 45 for his first preseason game before 32 became available and he took that.

6) Ernie Davis was supposed to wear number 45. He did so one time in public.

8) Webster Slaughter had 5 for a short time before he switched to 84.

9) Paul Wiggin also wore 84.

10) Cliff Lewis, not Graham, started at quarterback in the first game for the Browns in 1946. He wore 62.

11) Dante Lavelli wore 56 and then 86.

12) Gary Collins and Brian Brennan were two others who wore 86.

13) John Morrow and Chip Banks wore 56.

14) Len Ford wore 53 and then 80

15) Bill Cowher wore 53 as well.

16) The other one-time Browns player who went on to become head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chuck Noll, wore 65.

17) Another Hall of Famer, John Havlicek, wore 89 when he spent the 1962 training camp with the Browns, as did Milt Morin, who is in the Hall of the Very Good for the Browns, also known as the Cleveland Browns Legends.

18) Turkey Jones wore 80, and 64. Terry Bradshaw, who never played for the Browns, wore 12, the same as a man who did play for the Browns, Don Cockcroft.

19) Joe DeLamielleure wore 64, as did Jim Ray Smith and even Ryan Pontbriand, not to mention Abe Gibron.

20) And Bernie Kosar wore 19 because General Manager Ernie Accorsi said he reminded him of John Unitas.

Steve King