Dream Team Project
Cleveland Browns Dream Team
The all-time Browns lineup, position by position. Every player here suited up for the Browns. Disagree with a pick? Leave a comment or nominate someone below.
How we pick
One real lineup per franchise, judged on what each player did in this uniform: impact, playoff moments and longevity with the team first, league honors second. Players are measured against their own era, and every entry is checked against the team site, the Pro Football Hall of Fame or Pro Football Reference.
The roster
Our picks, grouped by unit.
Offense
11 playersQB
Otto Graham
Played in a league title game in all ten seasons and won seven.
3× NFL champion; 4× AAFC champion; 5× Pro Bowl; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
RB
Jim Brown
Many people's pick as the greatest football player of all time.
NFL champion 1964; 9× Pro Bowl; 8× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
WR
Paul Warfield
Hall of Fame receiver who was a deep threat from his rookie title season.
NFL champion 1964; 3× Pro Bowl with CLE; Browns Ring of Honor
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
WR
Dante Lavelli
Sure-handed Hall of Fame end and Graham's clutch target.
3× NFL champion; 4× AAFC champion; 3× Pro Bowl; NFL 1940s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
WR
Mac Speedie
Hall of Fame end who paired with Lavelli on the early dynasty.
NFL champion 1950; 4× AAFC champion; 2× Pro Bowl; NFL 1940s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
TE
Ozzie Newsome
Hall of Fame tight end who retired with 662 catches, all for Cleveland.
3× Pro Bowl (1981, 1984, 1985); NFL 1980s All-Decade; Hall of Fame
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
LT
Joe Thomas
Hall of Famer who played 10,363 consecutive snaps at left tackle.
10× Pro Bowl; 6× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL 2010s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
LG
Joel Bitonio
Twelve-year anchor at left guard who spent his whole career in Cleveland.
7× Pro Bowl (2018-2024); 2× 1st-team All-Pro (2021, 2022)
Sources: Wikipedia
C
Frank Gatski
Hall of Fame center who snapped for seven championship teams.
3× NFL champion with CLE; 4× AAFC champion; Hall of Fame
Sources: Wikipedia
RG
Gene Hickerson
Hall of Fame pulling guard who led the way for Brown and Kelly.
NFL champion 1964; 6× Pro Bowl (1965-1970); NFL 1960s All-Decade
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
RT
Mike McCormack
Hall of Fame tackle on the mid-1950s champions.
2× NFL champion (1954, 1955); 5× Pro Bowl with CLE; Hall of Fame
Sources: Wikipedia
Defense
11 playersDT
Bill Willis
Lightning-quick Hall of Fame middle guard and a pro football pioneer.
NFL champion 1950; 4× AAFC champion; 3× Pro Bowl; NFL 1940s All-Decade
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
DT
Jerry Sherk
Best Browns defender of the 1970s over twelve seasons.
4× Pro Bowl (1973-1976); 1st-team All-Pro 1976
Sources: Wikipedia
DE
Len Ford
Hall of Fame pass rusher on three championship defenses.
3× NFL champion; 4× Pro Bowl (1951-1954); 4× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
EDGE
Myles Garrett
Most dominant pass rusher the franchise has ever had.
2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2023, 2025); 5× 1st-team All-Pro; 7× Pro Bowl
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Clay Matthews Jr.
Sixteen seasons of steady excellence at linebacker.
4× Pro Bowl (1985, 1987-1989); 16 seasons with Cleveland
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Jim Houston
Converted end who starred at linebacker for the 1964 champions.
NFL champion 1964; 4× Pro Bowl
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Walt Michaels
Five straight Pro Bowls on the 1950s title defenses.
2× NFL champion (1954, 1955); 5× Pro Bowl (1955-1959)
Sources: Wikipedia
CB
Hanford Dixon
Shutdown corner credited with naming the Dawg Pound.
3× Pro Bowl (1986-1988); 2× 1st-team All-Pro (1986, 1987)
Sources: Wikipedia
CB
Frank Minnifield
Physical press corner opposite Dixon on the 1980s playoff teams.
4× Pro Bowl (1986-1989); 1st-team All-Pro 1988; NFL 1980s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
S
Thom Darden
Free safety who holds the franchise interception records.
45 career interceptions; Pro Bowl 1978
Sources: Wikipedia
S
Warren Lahr
Eleven-year defensive back on four championship teams.
3× NFL champion; AAFC champion 1949; 1st-team All-Pro 1951; Pro Bowl 1953
Sources: Wikipedia
Special Teams / Coaching
4 playersK
Lou Groza
The Toe: Hall of Fame kicker and tackle across 21 seasons.
4× NFL champion; 4× AAFC champion; 9× Pro Bowl; NFL 1950s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
P
Horace Gillom
Booming punter for the dynasty's first decade.
3× NFL champion; 3× AAFC champion; Pro Bowl 1952
Sources: Wikipedia
RET
Josh Cribbs
Undrafted college quarterback who became an all-time great returner.
3× Pro Bowl; 1st-team All-Pro 2009; 8 career kickoff return TDs; NFL 2000s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
COACH
Paul Brown
Founding coach, innovator and the man the team is named after.
3× NFL champion (1950, 1954, 1955); 4× AAFC champion (1946-1949)
Sources: Wikipedia
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