Ask any long-time diehard Cleveland Browns fan what December 17 is, and he will get a sad look and tell you the story. On December 17, 1995, the Browns played their final game in Municipal Stadium before then-owner Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore to form the Baltimore Ravens.
Today is 29th anniversary (12/17/1995) of the last game at Municipal Stadium. #Browns def. #Bengals 26-10 & then it was off to Baltimore🤮😭
350 days earlier, CLE hosted its LAST playoff game!
Browns still haven’t recovered.
Thanks, Art!🤬@fox8news
pic.twitter.com/mSP78QJFCJ— John Sabol (@John_Sabol) December 17, 2024
The Browns head coach at that time was Bill Belichick who was fired as part of the transition.
Many Browns fans point to moving the Browns to Baltimore as the singular event that ruined the team’s luck, history, and good fortune. This is why there is a collective sigh of relief each year when Modell is not selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So much has happened since Modell made the move, and much of it has not been good.
Art Modell NOT selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Centennial Class.#Browns fans & everyone in Cleveland can relax now.
Modell should never be allowed in the Hall. No one will ever be able to convince me otherwise.
No. One.
— John Sabol (@John_Sabol) January 15, 2020
Browns fans erected a “Factory of Sadness” which described exactly how things went when the team returned in 1999. A winless season, a carousel of coaches and quarterbacks, and bad luck have followed the Browns ever since. There was a glimmer of hope when the Browns made the playoffs in the 2020 COVID-19 season, but it has since faded.
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Speaking of quarterback carousels, it is happening again. The Browns are on their third quarterback in the 2024-2025 season. Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston played so far this season. However, UCLA standout Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) will play in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns are 3-11 and on a three-game losing streak. Injuries have been prevalent with the most recent, a season-ender for fan favorite running back Nick Chubb, being among the worst. The team even lost its beloved radio announcer. Jim Donovan, the voice of the Browns since they returned in 1999, died on October 26 at the age of 64 after a long and courageous battle against cancer.
