The Cleveland Browns, an American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, does not have an official mascot. Unlike many other sports teams, the Browns have chosen to go without a mascot, opting instead to focus solely on the team and its players. The decision to not have a mascot is rooted in the team's history and tradition. When the team was first established in 1946, it was named after its first coach and co-founder, Paul Brown. The team adopted the name "Browns" to honor him and to pay homage to the team's founder. The team's colors, brown and orange, were also chosen to reflect this tribute.
Even representatives from the Cleveland Browns are befuddled as to the exact origin, date, and key figures in the creation of the logo (which made its first appearance in an ad for tickets to the 1946 opening game against the Miami Seahawks). However, many of the earliest versions of the elf are credited to Dick Dugan, who became the sports cartoonist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and often depicted Brownie in battle against the team's opponents, like the Broncos.
However, many of the earliest versions of the elf are credited to Dick Dugan, who became the sports cartoonist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and often depicted Brownie in battle against the team s opponents, like the Broncos. However, many of the earliest versions of the elf are credited to Dick Dugan, who became the sports cartoonist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and often depicted Brownie in battle against the team s opponents, like the Broncos.
The team's colors, brown and orange, were also chosen to reflect this tribute. Throughout the years, the Cleveland Browns have built a strong and loyal fanbase. The focus of the team has always been on the game itself and the experience for the fans at the stadium.
Brownie the Elf, the Cleveland Browns’ new midfield logo, explained
Thanks to a fan vote, the field at FirstEnergy Stadium will feature the running Brownie logo at the 50-yard line, giving the Browns their first midfield logo since 2016. (Photo by Aerial Agents courtesy the Cleveland Browns) Courtesy Cleveland Browns
8,966 shares- Joey Morona, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Brownie the Elf will make his 2022 debut as the Cleveland Browns midfield logo when the team takes on the New York Jets in Sunday’s home opener at FirstEnergy Stadium. The choice was met nationally with a collective “huh?”
On his radio show, NFL Network host Rich Eisen wondered “what the hell” the Browns were thinking by putting a “huge a-- Elf” at midfield. On Twitter, New York Giants beat writer Pat Leonard mocked the design, saying it looks like it belongs on a cereal box. And TikTok personality Jordan Schultz described the move as “a massive L.”
But it isn’t as if the team pulled Brownie out of a hat. Die-hard fans know the lovable Elf’s origins go way back even though his emergence might seem like a new development to the rest of the country. So what do we know about Brownie the Elf?
DEBUT OF BROWNIE THE ELF
The character made its debut in the team’s first season in the old All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946. Owner Arthur McBride named the team after its coach, Paul Brown, but needed a mascot to market it. The name Brownie comes from Scottish folklore. They’re described as cantankerous and mischievous spirits with elf-like features who come out at night to do chores around the house and who invented the chocolate sweet treat we now know as brownies. According to Barry Shuck of dawgsbynature.com, the first iteration of the logo was inspired by a Sears and Roebuck advertisement.
Another version of Brownie -- the now familiar one of the Elf running with the football -- first appeared in an advertisement and program promoting the Browns’ inaugural game against the Miami Seahawks on September 6, 1946.
During the 1960s, a story in The Plain Dealer about the Cleveland Browns was often accompanied by a drawing of Brownie the Elf by sports cartoonist Dick Dugan.
THE GLORY YEARS
Even though the Browns have never had a logo on their helmet, Brownie the Elf officially remained the team’s primary mark from 1946 to 1969, a period during which it won four AAFC and four NFL championships. The character, as drawn by Plain Dealer sports cartoonist Dick Dugan, often accompanied stories about the team in the newspaper.
Things began to change after Art Modell purchased the team in the early 1960s.
“In one of his first command decisions after buying the team in 1961, Modell said, ‘Get rid of the little fellow.’ Or something like that,” longtime Cleveland sports journalist Dan Coughlin wrote in a 1999 book, “Back Home Browns.”
BROWNIE’S COMEBACK
The Elf’s return to prominence began in the late 1990s, appearing on a popular jacket during the three years the city of Cleveland was without a football team, Coughlin wrote. When the team returned in 1999, the new owners, the Lerner family, embraced the character, bringing it back occasionally in team branding and on select merchandise. In 2006, Brownie the Elf was used on a training camp patch commemorating the team’s 60th anniversary. An Elf mascot has been a fixture on the sidelines at FirstEnergy Stadium for several years now, pumping up the crowd during home games.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski wears a hoodie featuring Brownie the Elf. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
The “angry” version of the character -- the one that’s now painted at the 50-yard-line -- reemerged in 2018 as the logo for training camp. But its real resurgence in popularity can be attributed to head coach Kevin Stefanski.
In 2020, the only season the team has won a playoff game in the last 27 years, Stefanski began wearing a hoodie featuring the running, stiff-arming Elf. It quickly became one of the most sought-after items in the team shop. Then, earlier this summer, in an effort to engage with fans more, Browns executive vice president and partner JW Johnson included both versions of Brownie in a poll in which fans could select the field design used at FirstEnergy Stadium this season. The team hasn’t had a logo at midfield since 2016, but in previous years the Browns helmet occupied that spot.
100,000 votes later, the choice was clear.
“We love the helmet logo, but Brownie has been around for a long time,” Johnson told clevelandbrowns.com. “I think people enjoy him, and we haven’t really showcased him as much as we’d like to. Between myself and (Browns Senior Vice President of Marketing & Media) Brent Rossi, we decided that we should bring him back. It’s been well-received.”
The team believes this is the first time Brownie has been painted at midfield since at least 1999 and perhaps as far back as the start of the Super Bowl era in 1966, if not the first time ever.
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The absence of a mascot allows fans to fully immerse themselves in the game and to connect directly with the players on the field. While many sports teams have mascots to entertain and engage with fans, the Cleveland Browns have chosen to let the game speak for itself. The team's famous Dawg Pound section, where passionate fans gather to cheer on the team, has become a symbol of the Browns' unique fan culture. Despite not having an official mascot, the Browns have created a strong brand identity and have become an iconic team in the NFL. The absence of a mascot has not diminished their popularity or their success on the field. The team continues to attract dedicated fans and remains a beloved institution in Cleveland sports history. In conclusion, the Cleveland Browns have chosen not to have an official mascot, focusing instead on the game and their strong fan culture. This decision has allowed the team's history and tradition to shine through and has solidified their place as one of the most respected teams in the NFL..
Reviews for "The Cleveland Browns Mascot: A Cultural Ambassador for the City"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars - I find the Cleveland Browns mascot to be extremely uninspiring and unoriginal. It's just a generic bulldog that lacks any character or charm. Compared to other mascots in the league, it's clear that the Browns really dropped the ball with this one. I was expecting something more creative and unique to represent the team's identity. Overall, I'm greatly disappointed with the mascot and find it to be a major letdown.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - As a longtime fan of the Cleveland Browns, I was excited to see what their mascot would be. However, to say that I'm underwhelmed would be an understatement. The mascot is nothing more than a brown dog with an orange collar. It's like they put no effort into coming up with something original or engaging. I understand that the team's colors are brown and orange, but they could have incorporated these elements in a much more creative and memorable way. I can't help but feel disappointed and let down by the lackluster choice of mascot.
3. Michael - 1 out of 5 stars - What were the Cleveland Browns thinking when they decided on their mascot? It's absolutely ridiculous and lacks any kind of appeal or connection to the team. The brown dog with an orange collar is just plain boring. They could have gone with a fierce representation of the team's name or something that connects to the city's history, but instead, we're stuck with this uninspiring mascot that adds nothing to the team's image. I'm extremely disappointed in this choice and believe they could have done so much better.
4. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - The Cleveland Browns mascot is far from memorable or exciting. It's just a generic dog that you can find anywhere. For a team with such rich history and passionate fans, you would expect something more unique and engaging. I understand the association with the team's colors, but that's just not enough. It feels like a missed opportunity to create a mascot that truly represents the spirit of the team and the city. Overall, a forgettable and disappointing choice by the Cleveland Browns.
5. David - 1 out of 5 stars - I can't understand why the Cleveland Browns thought this was a suitable mascot. It lacks creativity, personality, and any connection to the team. Compared to other mascots in the league, it's laughable how generic and unimpressive the Browns' mascot is. It feels like they didn't put any thought or effort into creating something unique. As a fan, I'm embarrassed by this choice and believe the team deserves a mascot that actually represents their identity and values.