What’s in a name?

Well, in the case of the Browns of the Brian Sipe era of the late 1970s into the early ‘80s, a lot, really.

That was a long time ago — over 4-1/2 decades, in fact — so memories can become a little clouded through all those years. And as such, a lot of people might think it was not until the 1980 season that the term “Kardiac Kids” was applied to the Brian Sipe era Browns. That’s understandable, because it is that year that the Browns had — by far — their greatest success of that span of time, finishing 11-5 to win the AFC Central championship, something they had not done in nine seasons, since 1971.

But in truth, it was actually the 1979
season when it occurred. Because of the slew of close games they played that year, the Browns were given the Kardiac Kids tag. “Kardiac Kids” was the title given to the 1979 Browns highlights video. The 1980
highlights video was aptly titled, “The Kardiac Kids, Again,” because, with all the fantastic finishes, it was a repeat of 1979.

Indeed, everybody thought that “Kardiac” flavor was a one-and- done phenomenon. Those kinds of special characteristics almost never manifest themselves in back-to-back seasons in pro sports, including in the NFL. It just doesn’t happen. It’s simply too much to ask. But in 1979 and ‘80 in Cleveland, it did repeat. It certainly did. In fact, as we learned, that was just the personality of that group of Browns players. No lead was too big to lose, and no deficit was too big to overcome. Everything had to be played out right to the very end. It was the unwritten rule.

“Brian Sipe loved being in all those tight situations,” Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano said. “But me? Not so much.”

In another one of the NFL Films-produced Browns highlight videos of the era, Rutigliano seemed to contradict himself to a certain degree. The coach was asked by the interviewer, “Why do you guys pass the ball so much?” Rutigliano answered in matter-of-fact fashion, “Because anything else would be incredibly boring.”

Oh,my, the Kardiac Kids were anything but boring. They were the polar opposite of that, incredibly exciting. Fans had to catch their breath when the games were over. But they loved it nonetheless. They couldn’t get enough of the Kardiac Kids. And the Kids seemed to delight in giving them an unforgettable show — a rollicking ride that nearly knocked them out of their seats — every week.

We’ll take a close look at the Kardiac Kids’ opening act, the 1979 season.

Steve King