Most Browns fans are aware that while our favorite team doesn’t have a logo on its helmets, it once almost did. Or actually did. Or something.
In 1965 the Browns were, supposedly, set to wear a logo on their domes for the first time (though they had previously worn numbers on their helmets). It was a stylized “CB” emblem that David Boss, a photographer and artist who would later start the NFL Creative Services department, designed at the behest of Art Modell for the NFL. That’s about where fact and knowledge end in this infamous tale.
I’ve been aware of the “CB” logo for years, but could never find a complete account. Rumors and misinformation ran deep — conflicting reports citing photos that may or may not exist, quotes people may or may not have said, speculation filling the information voids. Verdicts fell into one of two camps:
1) The Browns definitely wore the logo once during an exhibition game against the Packers in 1965.
2) The Browns never wore the logo because the players peeled them off in revolt, either during training camp or before a game.
This article appears in Feb 10-16, 2010.
In the very early days of the Browns, when they were the best and won all the time, they had an elf like mascot depicted on various publications that I think would make a great logo for their team helmet. The elf’s pose was a lot like the Heisman Trophy’s pose with a larger proportioned size football tucked under his arm. During half time a midget dressed up as an elf would run around the field too, which would incite the crowd. He and the man who wore than tan suit. Ah those were the days. So my vote is for the elf logo. Len Rattini, Cary North Carolina
At one time there was an open design contest to create a logo for the helmet. Either the Cleveland Press or Plain Dealer was involved. After thousands of entries the whole idea was scrapped.because nobody reall wanted a logo. Try and find more information on that.
First and foremost, I am both proud and glad that my team is the only team in the NFL to not have a logo. I did notice the majority of the places the “CB” logo showed up was in black and white ads, could it have been that this was the only way to indicate a browns uniform?? Their is no way to determine the jersey color is brown and not black. Those pics could have depicted a Steelers uniform, since they only have their logo on one side of their helmet, they would need something to show these are the Cleveland Browns. Just a thought.
Cool article. My grandfather had this framed, oil-painting in his basement, that I luckily inherited from him. This article confirms the rumors of it’s origin! http://www.flickr.com/photos/zerodegreesk/…
I agree with Lenny from Cary, NC…The Elf logo works for me
Don Briscar
Holly Springs,NC
One idea I’ve had to modernize the helmet yet keep the tradition would be to fatten the stripe. Doubling the width of the dark and white stripes could look pretty cool. I were a computer wiz I’d like to make a 3D drawing to see how this would look.
No logo, no dome and no cheerleaders in Cleveland. If ANYTHING sets the Browns apart from other teams, it’s these three things.
Put a Fairy on the helmets? That might work as an offensive strategy. Perhaps we could score while the other team is laughing!
While you’re at it, get rid of that stupid “Dawg Pound” logo. The “Dawg Pound” belongs to Browns fans, the same as “Who Dat?” belongs to Saints fans. Do these owners not make enough money without usurping fans’ cheers, chants and other ideas?
There is NOTHING more beautiful to me than that all white uniform with the orange helmet. That’s what the team wore when they were champs. Let’s bring that back and keep it.
“No logo, no dome and no cheerleaders in Cleveland. If ANYTHING sets the Browns apart from other teams, it’s these three things.” Sadly, no Super Bowls does too. Anyway, I was just gettinig into the Browns in 64-65 and seeing the old artifacts w/the logo reminded me that as a kid, I do remember seeing it, and was always kinda confused why it was never in a game. Glad it wasn’t adopted though. Aside from not needing one, the style was SO 60’s it would look ridiculous today.
I too love the original and unique look. It’s sort of like Yankee pinstripes – a classic look. To that end, I don’t like the chocolate brown pants w/ white jersey. Sorry. All the teams seem to be glamming up their uni’s and most look stupid; Seattle? Buffalo? Please. Give me the classic white pants with white jersey or my favorite, the dark brown jersey. Josh Cribbs wearing the brown jersey/white pants and blasting down the field out of the wildcat versus the Steelers wearing their classic uni’s on that frigid night in December was like going back in time.
I bought a mini helmet bearing the CB circa 1966 at Fort Harrod park in Harrodsburg, Ky. Little did I know what I had in my hand as a 9 year old kid.
I recall also reading about Frank Ryan drop kicking an elf log helmet downfield and saying, ” I’ll wear that when they change the name to the Cleveland Fairies”
I want to echo Denkogetsu: no logo, dome, or cheerleaders. I hate the fact that they created a logo for the dawg pound. And, I really hate the canned cheers of “Defense, Defense”. It sounds cheap. Besides, fans know when to cheer (beyond the polite golf clap).
Regarding the uniforms, I wish they would stay with the all white look (except for the times a warm weather team wants to wear white). However, I wouldn’t mind the orange pants from time to time. The orange jerseys are hideous, and the brown pants are horrible. God forbid the NFL force some lame cartoon-influenced logo on us.
No logo, no dome. Go all white ala 1964. Or, brown jersey with white pants. No orange or brown pants. Love the brownie, but it should be used like the Celtics use their leprechaun–as a logo at midfield and/or on the backs of their coats. Never on the uniform.
I agree, keep it simple, classic. I would even return the uniforms to pre-1999. If you’ll notice, they widened the stripe on the pants,which adds nothing. One other thing, please, please remove the AL (for Al Lerner) on the sleeve! One of the most incompetent owners in history, and let’s not forget that he aided and abetted Modell in moving the team out of town.
I like the elf and own lots of merchandise with it but not on the uniform or helmet. Growing up as a kid in Aurora I remember owning a Aurora green-man gym bag with the elf on it but My sisters class messed that up and wanted a tougher logo. In came the hideous gargoyle. So leave it alone before we open up a can of worms.
OK, I am also for a “no logo” helmet, but! that said, I think the team “deserves” a logo for mass-marketing purposes ONLY (sportswear etc.), and I have seen the Elf used in the past (present, too), along with a football-shaped oval with a brown & orange stripe with a “B” in in middle (which I thought looked very sharp myslef); and, of course, the orange & brown dog head logo that was used for a short period (even on the field) in the early 2000’s. NONE of them should ever go on the helmet, but I think the team logo should not continue to only be “the helmet” itself, which is still being used almost exclusively from what I have seen. Here is a slightly simlar comparison. Take the current Bengal helmet with it’s strips only but no logo. The bengals still use TWO other logos to market their team, and ignore the helmet in doing so (1) the prowling bengal logo & 2) the black & orage “B” logo). That is what I think the Browns need to do…just come up with one great “ture logo” for marketing purposes so my Browns hats aren’t just a logo of the helmet. The helmet is fine, but it makes a “stupid” logo in and unto itself, imho. GO BROWNS~!!
By the way, the official color is “Seal Brown,” not “Chocolate Brown.” The RGB for Seal Brown is 50,20,20, and the Hex is #321414.
In sight it must be white! Here’s a vote for the classic white shirts, white pants with only one alternate – the brown jersey with white pants. (Ditch the color pants!) No logo on the helmet. Brownie the Elf is as classic as Chief Wahoo, but shoule be used as a logo in publicity and on merchandise, not on the helmets. By the way, bring back the marching band fight song. Oh, and one last little request, bring back a championship team (it looks like that might be on track).
I complain about it every time I see it, but forgot to mention it earlier. The “AL” is long overdue for removal. Even though he facilitated the move to Baltimore, and his competency has been questioned, one year is long enough to wear the patch. One year should be the limit even if the person is a well-loved owner, coach, or player.
Now is the time to bring back the logo. No, no! Not the “wire hanger” Citizen’s Band scrawl that Modell liked (even then, he had no taste). We have to have an all-new logo that everyone can identify with: the heavily-frosted dark-chocolate all-American brownie! Yes. Not only instantly recognizable, but delicious AND good for you (anti-oxidants, you know).
Check this out – the cover of the January 2, 1966 NFL Championship Game, Browns vs. Packers. “The logo: is there on the cover, although it wasn’t on the Browns’ helmets that day. No matter. The Packers did a the Browns and ended Cleveand’s hopes of consecutive championships.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8BVcGoREYwc/S16E…
And thanks to Vic Grzegorek for this great article. I had wondered for years who had done those mid-1960’s NFL paintings. I had that print as a poster — it was what you got from Coca Cola for collecting all 40 or so Browns/NFL Coke bottle caps (a player’s picture was on the inside of the cap), pasting them on the “official” sheet and turning them in for the prize. If you turned in 10 sheets — that’s like 400 bottles of Coke in an era when soft drinks were more a treat than an everyday occurence — you got an official football. Today, I wish I still had the poster AND the sheet of bottle caps.
OK, last try on the 1966 program link. My apologies, should have thought of this to begin with:
http://tinyurl.com/yb4gamp
A brownie is a legendary kind of elf popular in folklore around England and Scotland. He is the British counterpart of the Scandinavian tomte and the Russian domovoi. Customarily they are said to inhabit houses and aid in tasks around the house. However, brownies do not like to be seen and will only work at night, perhaps in exchange for small gifts or food. They usually abandon the house if their gifts are called payments, or if they are offered gifts of clothes (no matter how shabby their own clothes are).
I was a player on the 64,65,66 teams and there was no logo on the helmets! One of the reasons I signed with the Browns was because of those white uiniforms with the orange helmets (No Logo). It represented Len Ford, Otto Graham,Bill Willis, Marion Motley, Dub Jones, Dante Lavelli, Mac Speedie,Don Colo, Ken Konz, Bobby Mitchell, and of course Jim Brown!
One of saddest moments was when they tore down Municipal Stadium….There was no greater adrenalin rush than coming out of that tunnel and being introduced to those 80,000 screaming Browns fans… Walt “Flea” Roberts #27!
Interesting…
Orange helmets. No logo, never. Uniforms White on White. Those were Paul Browns’s teams — the great teams that established the tradition for the Cleveland Browns.
Oh how I would love to see that again. Watching the Browns against the Packers during the first pre-season game brought back so many memories. Who would gain more yards? Jim Taylor or Jim Brown?
Let’s stick with the White on White — on the road and at home!
No frills..that is indeed Cleveland Browns football.
I like the all-brown pants we sported last year. I was hoping those would be brought back for this season, but I guess they won’t be .
I miss old football, There are lots of people about there who still longing for that team.
Great article! You know i love our classic look. I have always thought of the minimalist uniqueness equals classic original.
I would say if there was a scenario where the organization because of pure marketing standpoint or ruling needed to incorporate a logo on the helmet I will only favor this. The browns, according to historians did actually have a logo on their helmet which I was amazed was not mentioned. We also recently used them I believe twice in one season. That would be #s on the side of the helmet. Like I said if we had to this would be the only solution to keep the classic browns look incorporated with another look from a classic college football team in the Alabama Crimson Tide.
I guess I’m the only person who actually really liked the numbers on the helmets. My idea would be to put the numbers just on one side of the helmet still leaving the other side blank to keep the traditionalists happy.
A neat article from a few years ago that can always be cranked back out before training camp opens. The “classic” look of the helmet should not be changed — though, I believe in the Policy years, the orange was initially a tad darker, but eventually reverted to the “original” color — but a tough looking elf could be created for that slick merchandising which drives pro sports.