CANTON — From their impressive record of seven championships in a 10-year span beginning in their first year of existence to “The Kardiac Kids” and “Dawg Pound” years through the franchise’s rebirth in 1999, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will celebrate the rich history of the Cleveland Browns with a temporary exhibit titled, “A Legacy Unleashed.”
The new, multi-area exhibit will open to the public at 9 a.m. on March 15.
Scheduled to run daily through April 21, the exhibit will feature artifacts honoring the storied history of the Browns: the franchise’s eight championships, including a celebration of the anniversaries of the 1954 and 1964 NFL Championships; how Norwalk native Paul Brown’s influence is felt in professional football still today; Marion Motley’s and Bill Willis’ reintegration of football as part of “The Forgotten Four.”
Player appearances each of the six weekends in the exhibit’s run will highlight the programming schedule.
“No fan base supports its team with more passion than Browns fans,” said Jim Porter, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “This exhibit will give thousands of fans, not only in Northeast Ohio but across the country, an opportunity to celebrate the unique history of a franchise that dominated pro football from the moment it took the field in 1946.
“Rooting for the Browns — through the good times and the not-so-good times – has never wavered across the many generations of people who have wrapped themselves in the colors of orange and brown.”
Featured in the exhibit will be a “champions jewelry case” with items players and coaches received for winning one of the team’s eight titles, in addition to the Bronze Busts of the 18 individuals who made their mark in pro football primarily with the Browns.
Several monitors and wall displays throughout the museum will feature Browns-themed content paying tribute to the best players and teams throughout the franchise’s history.
For the duration of “A Legacy Unleashed,” legendary Browns players will make appearances in Canton, including Hall of Famers Joe DeLamielleure and Ozzie Newsome (April 19-20) to cap the exhibit’s run. They will participate in a “chalk talk” and a “team meal” in partnership with Mid’s True Sicilian Pasta Sauce.
Browns Legends Bernie Kosar and Peyton Hillis will take part in opening-weekend festivities (March 16-17) that will include a chalk talk and an autograph session.
Other players who have confirmed appearances in Canton are: Hanford Dixon, Felix Wright and Phil Dawson (March 22-23); Greg Pruitt (March 29-30); Josh Cribbs, Eric Metcalf, Dino Hall and Gerald “Ice Cube” McNeil (April 5-6); and Reggie Langhorne and Webster Slaughter (April 12-13).
Several other Browns legends have been invited, and more players could be added to the lineup coming to Canton over the next few weeks.
Brownie the Elf, the team mascot, along with the Hall’s mascot, Goldy the G.O.A.T., also will make appearances while the exhibit is open.
The Hall of Fame Café will add some Cleveland-themed food and beverages to its regular menu to enhance the atmosphere for Browns fans.
Guests visiting the Hall of Fame during the exhibit’s run can see all of the special items on display as part of their regular admission ticket. Special events, such as the chalk talks and autograph sessions, will require an additional ticket.
The history
Prior to joining the NFL in 1950 under head coach Paul Brown, the team’s namesake, the Cleveland Browns dominated the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946-49, winning the title in all four of the league’s existence.
Their fortunes continued when the franchise moved to the more established National Football League, winning the NFL Championship in their first season. Between 1950-55, Cleveland reached the NFL Championship every year, claiming three titles (1950, 1954, 1955).
The roster during this period featured nine players eventually elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Len Ford, Frank Gatski, Otto Graham, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Mike McCormack, Mac Speedie, Motley and Willis.
Cleveland made a run at the championship again in 1964 after adding future Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Gene Hickerson, Leroy Kelly and Paul Warfield. A 27-0 victory over the Baltimore Colts on Dec. 27, marked the franchise’s fourth NFL crown.
In October 2023, the City of Norwalk unveiled a statue of Coach Brown, which included two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame staff — Anthony Munoz (Chief Football Relationship Officer) and Jim Smith (Business Development Manager) — in attendance.
For more details on the exhibit, or to buy tickets, visit ProFootballHOF.com/BrownsLegacy.
