1962 Cleveland Browns season

1962 Cleveland Browns season
Head coachPaul Brown
Home fieldCleveland Stadium
Local radioWERE
Results
Record7–6–1
Division place3rd NFL Eastern
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersBob Gain, DT
Mike McCormack, RT
Bill Glass, DE
Jim Brown, FB
Galen Fiss, LB
Jim Ray Smith, G
AP All-Pros
4

The 1962 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 13th season with the National Football League. It was the last with Paul Brown as head coach, as Art Modell fired him on January 9, 1963. One week later, Blanton Collier was named the second head coach of the Browns.

Exhibition schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance
1 August 11 at Detroit Lions L 14–17 0–1 34,241
2 August 18 Pittsburgh Steelers W 33–10 1–0 77,683
3 August 25 vs. San Francisco 49ers at Portland, OR W 34–27 2–1 27,161
4 September 1 at Los Angeles Rams W 26–24 3–1 43,118
5 September 7 at Chicago Bears W 28–24 4–1 57,878

There was a doubleheader on August 18, 1962, Cowboys vs Lions and Steelers vs Browns.

Regular season schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 16 New York Giants W 17–7 1–0 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 81,115
2 September 23 Washington Redskins L 16–17 1–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 57,491
3 September 30 at Philadelphia Eagles L 7–35 1–2 Franklin Field 60,671
4 October 7 Dallas Cowboys W 19–10 2–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 44,040
5 October 14 Baltimore Colts L 14–36 2–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 80,132
6 October 21 at St. Louis Cardinals W 34–7 3–3 Busch Stadium 23,256
7 October 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 41–14 4–3 Pitt Stadium 35,417
8 November 4 Philadelphia Eagles T 14–14 4–3–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 63,848
9 November 11 at Washington Redskins L 9–17 4–4–1 D.C. Stadium 48,169
10 November 18 St. Louis Cardinals W 38–14 5–4–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 41,815
11 November 25 Pittsburgh Steelers W 35–14 6–4–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 53,601
12 December 2 at Dallas Cowboys L 21–45 6–5–1 Cotton Bowl 24,226
13 December 9 at New York Giants L 13–17 6–6–1 Yankee Stadium 62,794
14 December 15 at San Francisco 49ers W 13–10 7–6–1 Kezar Stadium 35,274

Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Week 1

The Browns gave a record opening-day crowd of 81,115 at Cleveland Stadium something to remember in a 17–7 victory over the Giants. The game's most memorable play is a flea-flicker that set up a 29-yard Lou Groza field goal. Quarterback Jim Ninowski hands the ball to Jim Brown, who hands to receiver Ray Renfro, who hands the ball back to Ninowski, who completes a 53-yard pass to Rich Kreitling.

Week 2

Bobby Mitchell, traded by coach Paul Brown to Washington during the offseason, haunts his old team by scoring the winning touchdown in a 17–16 Redskins victory at Cleveland. With the Browns leading 16–10 late in the fourth quarter and trying to run out the clock, Jim Brown fumbles, giving the Redskins possession near midfield. Norm Snead throws a short pass to Mitchell, who races for the go-ahead touchdown. The Browns get two shots at a final-minute game-winning field goal, but both of Lou Groza's attempts are blocked.

Week 5

The Browns are beaten decisively by the Colts 36–14 at Cleveland Stadium. The Browns do not get a first down until the Colts had a 23–0 lead. Jim Brown had his worst rushing total ever: 11 yards on 14 attempts, with seven of those yards coming on one carry.

Week 8

In one of the uglier games played at Cleveland Stadium, the Browns and Philadelphia Eagles combine for eight turnovers and five missed field goals in a 14–14 tie. Jim Brown finishes with 69 rushing yards on 20 carries, his seventh consecutive game with fewer than 100 yards.

Week 11

Jim Brown, ending the longest 100-yard drought of his career at nine games, pounds for 110 in a 35–14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Stadium. Frank Ryan complements Brown by throwing for 284 yards and three touchdowns.

Week 14

In what would be the final game of Paul Brown's Cleveland coaching career, the Browns beat the San Francisco 49ers, 13–10 at Kezar Stadium. The Browns avoid their second losing season but cannot save their coach's job. Needing 139 yards for another 1,000-yard campaign, Jim Brown falls just short, ending the year at 996. Although Brown fails to win a rushing title for the first time in his career, he does lead the team in receiving for the first time, catching 47 passes for 517 yards and five touchdowns.

Standings

NFL Eastern Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
New York Giants 12 2 0 .857 10–2 398 283 W9
Pittsburgh Steelers 9 5 0 .643 8–4 312 363 W3
Cleveland Browns 7 6 1 .538 6–5–1 291 257 W1
Washington Redskins 5 7 2 .417 4–6–2 305 376 L1
Dallas Cowboys 5 8 1 .385 4–7–1 398 402 L2
St. Louis Cardinals 4 9 1 .308 4–7–1 287 361 W2
Philadelphia Eagles 3 10 1 .231 3–8–1 282 356 L2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Personnel

Roster

1962 Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

rookies in italics

[1]

Staff

1962 Cleveland Browns staff
Front office

Coaches

Offensive coaches

  Defensive coaches

Strength & Coditioning

  • Athletic Trainer - Leo Murphy
  • Equipment Manager - Morris Kono

References

  1. ^ "1962 Cleveland Browns Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.