There was no doubt that
Paul Brown would on this list, it was just a matter of how high he would be. Brown
created two NFL teams, the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. He was
also very innovative and is one of the most respected coaches until this very
day.
Photo Courtesy of AP
The original Browns roster was a cornucopia of Browns’ greats. Quarterback Otto Graham, tackle/kicker Lou Groza and receiver Dante Lavelli were amongst the first players the Browns signed. They also signed African American standouts, defensive lineman Bill Willis and running back Marion Motley, which in 1946 was not a common practice. Brown was the head coach for the Browns from 1946 – 1962. In that time he won four AAFC championships and three NFL championships. After the 1962 season, Brown was fired from the organization he created by owner Art Modell.
In 1968, after a short
hiatus out of football, Brown created a new franchise in Cincinnati. He used
similar colors to those used by the Browns and when Modell complained that the
Bengals were stealing their stuff, Brown replied, “Who is stealing from whom?”
Brown would go on to coach the Bengals from 1968 – 1975. After leaving coaching
he remained as the team’s owner and president until his death in 1991.
Brown had numerous
former players and coaches become NFL head coaches. His 1946 original team
included Lou Saban, who would go on to have a long and illustrious coaching
career as well as assistant coach Blanton Collier who would be Brown’s
successor in 1963. Other players and coaches who worked under Brown who would
go on to become head coaches include, but are not limited to, Don Shula, Weeb
Ewbank, Chuck Noll, Ara Parseghian, Sam Wyche, Bruce Coslet and Bill Walsh.
Photo Courtesy of AP Photos
There are many things that are part of the fabric of football today that Brown had a hand in creating. The playbook being written down was a Brown invention as he wanted to make sure players were studying all the plays. He was the first coach to use film to study opponents, used a play-calling shuttle system where offensive linemen were shuttling in and out with the next play and timing the 40-yard dash.
Paul Brown’s legacy
continues through the two franchises he started, the many coaches that can trace
their lineage up to Brown and the many innovations he brought to the NFL that
are common-place today. What might be most notable is Brown and Otto Graham are
the only coach – quarterback duo with as illustrious a resume as New England
Patriots Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. In many ways, Belichick and Brady are
the modern era version of Brown and Graham. What an amazing legacy!