The current Browns, with their 10-5 record and the ability with a win on Thursday night over the New York Jets to clinch their first playoff spot since 2020, are hoping that they are just beginning a special time in franchise history, but 68 years ago Tuesday, the club was completing a special time in such.

It was Dec. 26, 1955 that the Browns routed the Los Angeles Rams 38-14 in the NFL Championship Game before a crowd of almost 86,000 at Memorial Coliseum, bringing a fitting end to one of one of the greatest runs in pro football history. The Browns, in their 10th season of existence dating back to 1946, had made it to 10 straight leaguechampionship games, winning seven of them, including in the last two years. A year earlier to the day, on Dec. 26, 1955 at Cleveland, the Browns had dominated the Detroit Lions 56–10 in the title game.

Quarterback Otto Graham, the key to that decade-long success, had retired after the 1954 championship game, but left the door open with head coach Paul Brown, that if he did not like his quarterback situation heading into the 1955 season, to give him a call and he’d come back. That’s exactly what happened, as Graham came back for one more season, won another title and then retired for good. L

Just as he was against the Lions the year before, accounting for a whopping six touchdowns, three passing and three running, he was outstanding against the Rams, throwing for two touchdowns, 50 yards to his go-to target for all 10 years, wide receiver Dante Lavelli, and 35 yards to wideout Ray Renfro, and running for two more covering 15 yards and one yard. The two runs gave the Browns a 31–7 lead after three quarters and sealed the deal.

Cleveland’s first touchdown of the day was on a 65-yard interception return by safety Don Paul. Lou Groza added a 26 yard field goal.

The Browns got close a couple times, but they did not return to the championship game for nine seasons, until 1964 when they defeated the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts 27-0.

Steve King