1976-1985
1976: Len Ford was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Paul Warfield returned after a six-year absence. Brian Sipe took over as starting quarterback in the second half of the season and played well, and Pruitt again rushed for 1,000 yards. Jerry Sherk had 12 sacks, and the Browns finished at 9-5, just missing the playoffs.
1977: Bill Willis was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Cleveland started quickly behind Sipe and a third consecutive 1,000-yard season from Pruitt, but an injury to Sipe and a late-season slump dropped the Browns to 6-8 and last place in the AFC Central. Gregg resigned with one game remaining and was replaced by Dick Modzelewski, a former Brown.
1978: Sam Rutigliano was named coach and led the Browns to a 3-0 start and 8-8 record. Sipe had success in throwing to Reggie Rucker and rookie tight end Ozzie Newsome, and Pruitt ran well despite missing four games.
1979: Dubbed the "Kardiac Kids," the Browns finished 9-7, with 12 of their 16 games decided in the final minute. Losses in their final two games kept them out of the playoffs. Mike Pruitt rushed for 1,294 yards.
1980: Brian Sipe earned MVP honors after passing for 4,132 yards and 30 touchdowns and leading the Browns to the AFC Central title. Mike Pruitt again passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark and was one of five players to catch at least 50 passes. The Browns went 11-5 to win the AFC Central, but on Jan. 4, 1981, the wild-card Oakland Raiders defeated the Browns in Cleveland, 14-12.
1981: The Browns dropped to 5-11 despite strong seasons from Sipe and tight end Newsome. Mike Pruitt rushed for 1,000 yards for the third consecutive year but the defense couldn't stop the pass.
1982: Cleveland signed top draft pick Chip Banks and 1979 top (( pick Tom Cousineau to strengthen the defense, and the Browns finished eighth in the AFC during the strike-shortened season with a 4-5 record. On Dec. 19, Paul McDonald replaced Sipe at quarterback and led a 10-9 victory over Pittsburgh. On Jan. 8, 1983, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Browns, 27-10, in the playoffs.
1983: Bobby Mitchell and Paul Warfield were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Sipe regained his starting job and Mike Pruitt again rushed for 1,000 yards but Cleveland failed to make the playoffs with a 9-7 mark.
1984: Mike McCormack was inducted into the Hall of Fame. On Oct. 21, the Browns lost to Cincinnati, 12-9, dropping their record to 1-7. Marty Schottenheimer replaced Rutigliano as coach and led the Browns to four victories in their final seven games.
1985: Quarterback Bernie Kosar was drafted out of Miami. Frank Gatski was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack become the third backfield combination to each top the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Cornerbacks Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon started barking at each other on the field and the rest of the defense and the fans caught on, starting the "Dawg Pound." Cleveland won the AFC Central with an 8-8 record. On Jan. 4, 1986, Miami came from behind to defeat the Browns, 24-21, in the playoffs.
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Year-by-year results
Year ... W-L-T ... ... Pos Playoffs
1946 ... 12-2-0 .. ... 1st AAFC championship: Beat New York, 14-9
1947 ... 12-1-1 .. ... 1st AAFC championship: Beat New York, 14-3
1948 ... 14-0-0 .. ... 1st AAFC championship: Beat Buffalo, 49-7
1949 ... 9-1-2 ... ... 1st AAFC championship: Beat San Fran., 21-7
1950 ... 10-2-0 .. ... T1st NFL championship: Beat L.A., 30-28
1951 ... 11-1-0 .. ... 1st NFL championship: Lost to L.A., 24-17
1952 ... 8-4-0 ... ... 1st NFL championship: Lost to Detroit, 17-7
1953 ... 11-1-0 .. ... 1st NFL championship: Lost to Detroit, 17-16
1954 ... 9-3-0 ... ... 1st NFL championship: Beat Detroit, 56-10
1955 ... 9-2-1 ... ... 1st NFL championship: Beat L.A., 38-14
1956 ... 5-7-0 ... ... T4th
1957 ... 9-2-1 ... ... 1st NFL championship: Lost to Detroit, 59-14
1958 ... 9-3-0 ... ... T1st NFL playoff: Lost to New York, 10-0
1959 ... 7-5-0 ... ... T2nd
1960 ... 8-3-1 ... ... 2nd
1961 ... 8-5-1 ... ... 3rd
1962 ... 7-6-1 ... ... 3rd
1963 ... 10-4-0 .. ... 2nd
1964 ... 10-3-1 .. ... 1st NFL championship: Beat Baltimore, 27-0
1965 ... 11-3-0 .. ... 1st NFL championship: Lost to G. Bay, 23-12
1966 ... 9-5-0 ... ... T2nd
1967 ... 9-5-0 ... ... 1st NFL playoff: Lost to Dallas, 52-14
1968 ... 10-4-0 .. ... 1st NFL championship: Lost to Balt., 34-0
1969 ... 10-3-1 .. ... 1st NFL championship: Lost to Minn., 27-7
1970 ... 7-7-0 ... ... 2nd
1971 ... 9-5-0 ... ... 1st AFC playoff: Lost to Baltimore, 20-3
1972 ... 10-4-0 .. ... 2nd AFC playoff: Lost to Miami, 20-14
1973 ... 7-5-2 ... ... 3rd
1974 ... 4-10-0 .. ... 4th
1975 ... 3-11-0 .. ... 4th
1976 ... 9-5-0 ... ... 3rd
1977 ... 6-8-0 ... ... 4th
1978 ... 8-8-0 ... ... 3rd
1979 ... 9-7-0 ... ... 3rd
1980 ... 11-5-0 .. ... 1st AFC playoff: Lost to Oakland, 14-12
1981 ... 5-11-0 .. ... 4th
1982 ... 4-5-0 ... ... 8th AFC playoff: Lost to L.A., 27-10
1983 ... 9-7-0 ... ... 2nd
1984 ... 5-11-0 .. ... 3rd
1985 ... 8-8-0 ... ... 1st AFC playoff: Lost to Miami, 24-21
1986 ... 12-4-0 .. ... 1st AFC championship: Lost to Denver,23-20*
1987 ... 10-5-0 .. ... 1st AFC championship: Lost to Denver, 38-33
1988 ... 10-6-0 .. ... 2nd AFC wild card: Lost to Houston, 24-23
1989 ... 9-6-1 ... ... 1st AFC championship: Lost to Denver,37-21
1990 ... 3-13-0 .. ... 4th
1991 ... 6-10-0 .. ... 3rd
1992 ... 7-9-0 ... ... 3rd
1993 ... 7-9-0 ... ... 3rd
1994 ... 11-5-0 .. ... 2nd AFC playoff: Lost to Pittsburgh, 29-9
1995 ... 4-5-0 ... ... T2nd
Tot. ... 420-264-13
* -- Overtime