2021 Cleveland Browns season

The 2021 season is the Cleveland Browns' 69th season as a member of the National Football League, their 73rd overall and their second under head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry. The Browns failed to improve upon their 11–5 record from 2020; they will attempt to return to the playoffs for a second consecutive year, which has not occurred since 1988 and 1989. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the team's founding in 1946, the Browns introduced a commemorative logo in January to be used in 2021.[1]

2021 Cleveland Browns season
OwnerJimmy and Dee Haslam
Head coachKevin Stefanski
General managerAndrew Berry (EVP of Football Ops/GM)
Home fieldFirstEnergy Stadium
Results
Record7–6
Division place2nd AFC North
Uniform

Offseason

Re-signings
Position Player Tag Date
TE Stephen Carlson ERFA March 5
DE Porter Gustin ERFA March 5
WR Rashard Higgins UFA March 17
WR KhaDarel Hodge RFA March 15
OLB Elijah Lee UFA March 19
WR JoJo Natson UFA March 18
K Cody Parkey UFA March 18
LB Malcolm Smith UFA March 18

Players added
Position Player Tag 2020 Team Date
DE Jadeveon Clowney UFA Tennessee Titans April 14
CB Troy Hill UFA Los Angeles Rams March 18
DT Malik Jackson UFA Philadelphia Eagles March 19
S John Johnson UFA Los Angeles Rams March 17
DT Malik McDowell UFA May 3
DE Takkarist McKinley UFA Las Vegas Raiders March 17
K Chase McLaughlin waivers New York Jets May 11
OT Greg Senat UFA Dallas Cowboys March 18
DT Damion Square UFA Los Angeles Chargers May 4
LB Anthony Walker Jr. UFA Indianapolis Colts March 19

Players lost
Position Player Tag 2021 Team Date
DE Adrian Clayborn Release March 9
LB Tae Davis Release Houston Texans March 15
C Anthony Fabiano Retired[2] June 6
LB B. J. Goodson UFA
WR Marvin Hall UFA New England Patriots[3] June 4
CB Kevin Johnson UFA Tennessee Titans March 18
SS Karl Joseph UFA Las Vegas Raiders April 9
OT Kendall Lamm UFA Tennessee Titans March 17
CB Terrance Mitchell UFA Houston Texans March 17
DE George Obinna ERFA
DT Larry Ogunjobi UFA Cincinnati Bengals March 17
G Malcolm Pridgeon Release February 9
DT Sheldon Richardson Release Minnesota Vikings[4] April 16
S Andrew Sendejo UFA
WR Taywan Taylor UFA Houston Texans[5] May 20
DT Vincent Taylor UFA Houston Texans March 17
CB Tavierre Thomas Release Houston Texans March 5
DE Olivier Vernon UFA

Draft
Main article: 2021 NFL Draft
2021 Cleveland Browns Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
126 Greg Newsome IICBNorthwestern
252 Jeremiah Owusu-KoramoahLBNotre Damefrom Chicago via Carolina
391 Anthony SchwartzWRAuburnfrom New Orleans
4110 James HudsonOTCincinnatifrom Philadelphia
132 Tommy TogiaiDTOhio State
5153 Tony Fields IILBWest Virginiafrom Detroit
169 Richard LeCounteSGeorgiafrom Los Angeles Rams
6211 Demetric FeltonRBUCLA

Pre-draft trades

Undrafted free agents
Player Position College Signed Cut
Tre HarbisonRBCharlotteMay 3
Romeo McKnightDECharlotteMay 3
Emmanuel RugambaCBMiami (OH)May 3
Kiondre ThomasCBKansas StateMay 3
Marvin WilsonDTFlorida StateMay 3

Staff
Cleveland Browns staff
Front Office
  • Owners – Jimmy Haslam, Dee Haslam, Whitney Haslam-Johnson, J.W. Johnson (EVP)
  • Chief strategy officer – Paul DePodesta
  • EVP/Chief Operating Officer – David Jenkins
  • EVP of football operations/General manager – Andrew Berry
  • Vice president of football administration – Chris Cooper
  • Vice president of football operations – Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
  • Vice president of player personnel – Glenn Cook
  • Vice president of research and strategy – Andrew Healy
  • Vice president of player personnel process and development – Ken Kovash
  • Director of football administration - Taylor Young
  • Director of player personnel – Dan Saganey
  • Assistant director of pro personnel – Adam Al-Khayyal
  • Director of research and strategy – Dave Giuliani
  • Director of scouting research – Mike Cetta
  • Director of football information systems - Brad DeAngelis
  • Senior football advisor – Ryan Grigson
  • Special advisor – Jim Brown
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
  
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Joe Woods
  • Defensive line – Chris Kiffin
  • Assistant defensive line – Jeremy Garrett
  • Linebackers – Jason Tarver
  • Defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs – Jeff Howard
  • Assistant defensive backs – Brandon Lynch
  • Defensive run game coordinator – Ben Bloom
  • Defensive quality control – Stephen Bravo-Brown
Special teams coaches
  • Special teams coordinator – Mike Priefer
  • Assistant special teams – Doug Colman
  • Coaching assistant – Ryan Cordell
Strength and conditioning
  • Director of high performance – Shaun Huls
  • Director of strength and conditioning – Larry Jackson
  • Director of performance nutrition – Katy Meassick
  • Strength and conditioning assistant/sports science – Josh Christovich
  • Strength and conditioning assistant – Monty Gibson
  • Strength and conditioning assistant – Dale Jones
  • Strength and conditioning assistant – Evan Marcus

→ Coaching staff
→ Management
→ More NFL staffs

AFC East
BUF
MIA
NE
NYJ
North
BAL
CIN
CLE
PIT
South
HOU
IND
JAX
TEN
West
DEN
KC
LV
LAC
NFC East
DAL
NYG
PHI
WAS
North
CHI
DET
GB
MIN
South
ATL
CAR
NO
TB
West
ARI
LAR
SF
SEA

Current roster
Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists

Practice squad


Rookies in italics

Roster updated December 17, 2021

40 active, 26 inactive, 16 practice squad (+3 exempt)

→ AFC rosters → NFC rosters

Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 14 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 23–13 1–0 TIAA Bank Field Recap
2 August 22 New York Giants W 17–13 2–0 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
3 August 29 at Atlanta Falcons W 19–10 3–0 Mercedes Benz Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

The Browns' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.

Week Date Time (ET) Opponent Result Record Venue TV Recap
1 September 12 4:25 p.m. at Kansas City Chiefs L 29–33 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium CBS Recap
2 September 19 1:00 p.m. Houston Texans W 31–21 1–1 FirstEnergy Stadium CBS Recap
3 September 26 1:00 p.m. Chicago Bears W 26–6 2–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Fox Recap
4 October 3 1:00 p.m. at Minnesota Vikings W 14–7 3–1 U.S. Bank Stadium CBS Recap
5 October 10 4:05 p.m. at Los Angeles Chargers L 42–47 3–2 SoFi Stadium CBS Recap
6 October 17 4:05 p.m. Arizona Cardinals L 14–37 3–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Fox Recap
7 October 21 8:20 p.m. Denver Broncos W 17–14 4–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Fox/NFLN/Prime Recap
8 October 31 1:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–15 4–4 FirstEnergy Stadium CBS Recap
9 November 7 1:00 p.m. at Cincinnati Bengals W 41–16 5–4 Paul Brown Stadium CBS Recap
10 November 14 1:00 p.m. at New England Patriots L 7–45 5–5 Gillette Stadium CBS Recap
11 November 21 1:00 p.m. Detroit Lions W 13–10 6–5 FirstEnergy Stadium Fox Recap
12 November 28 8:20 p.m. at Baltimore Ravens L 10–16 6–6 M&T Bank Stadium NBC Recap
13 Bye
14 December 12 1:00 p.m. Baltimore Ravens W 24–22 7–6 FirstEnergy Stadium CBS Recap
15 December 20 5:00 p.m. Las Vegas Raiders FirstEnergy Stadium NFLN
16 December 25 4:30 p.m. at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field Fox/NFLN/
Prime Video
17 January 3 8:15 p.m. at Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field ESPN
18 January 9 1:00 p.m. Cincinnati Bengals FirstEnergy Stadium CBS

Notes:

  • Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
  • The network and time in Week 18 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling, as well as subject to being flexed to Saturday, January 8.

Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 1: Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 8 14 0729
Chiefs 3 7 101333

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

With the loss, the Browns started their season at 0–1. The Browns failed to win in Week 1 for the 17th straight season.

Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
Week 2: Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Texans 7 7 0721
Browns 7 7 10731

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

With the win, the Browns improved to 1–1.

Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 3: Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bears 3 0 306
Browns 0 10 31326

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

With the win, the Browns improved to 2–1. The Browns' defense set franchise records for fewest yards allowed (47) and fewest net passing yards allowed (1).[12] DE Myles Garrett set a franchise record with 4.5 sacks[12] and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[13]

Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 4: Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 0 11 0314
Vikings 7 0 007

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

With the win, the Browns improved to 3–1. This marked the Browns' sixth consecutive win over NFC opponents.

Week 5: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 5: Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 3 17 71542
Chargers 7 6 82647

at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

  • Date: October 10
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EDT/1:05 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,240
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

With the loss, the Browns fell to 3–2. The Browns became the first team in NFL history to lose a game despite scoring 40+ points and having no turnovers. Such teams were previously 442–0.

Week 6: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 6: Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 16 7737
Browns 0 14 0014

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

With the loss, the Browns fell to 3–3. This loss ended a 6-game winning streak over NFC opponents and marked the first time the Browns lost consecutive games under head coach Kevin Stefanski. Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield left the game after aggravating a shoulder injury he suffered earlier in the season. Mayfield was ruled out for the following game, ending his streak of 51 consecutive starts at quarterback, the second longest stretch in franchise history (trailing only Brian Sipe's 70 consecutive starts from 1978–82).[14]

Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 7: Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 0 7714
Browns 10 0 7017

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

With the win, the Browns improved to 4–3. RB D'Ernest Johnson was named the FedEx Ground Player of the week. Johnson, who was making his first career start in place of injured RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, had 22 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown, including several key runs to run out the clock and preserve the win.[15]

Week 8: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 8: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 6615
Browns 3 0 7010

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 56 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 67,431
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson and Gene Steratore
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

With the loss, the Browns fell to 4–4.

On November 5, the Browns announced their intentions to release WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Week 9: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 9: Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 7 17 10741
Bengals 7 3 0616

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: November 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly sunny, 60 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,451
  • Referee: Scott Novak
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson and Gene Steratore
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

With the win, the Browns improved to 5–4. The 25-point margin of victory was the Browns' largest since 2003. RB Nick Chubb was named FedEx Ground Player of the Week. Chubb rushed for 137 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns.

Week 10: at New England Patriots
Week 10: Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 7 0 007
Patriots 7 17 71445

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Game information

With the loss, the Browns fell to 5–5. The 38-point margin of defeat was the Browns' largest since 2005.

Week 11: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 11: Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 7310
Browns 0 13 0013

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

With the win, the Browns improved to 6–5.

Week 12: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 12: Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 0 3 7010
Ravens 3 3 7316

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game information

With the loss, the Browns went into their bye week at 6–6. The Browns’ sixth loss on the season means the Browns will not improve upon their 11–5 record from 2020.

Week 14: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 14: Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Ravens 0 6 31322
Browns 10 14 0024

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: December 12
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 47 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 67,431
  • Referee: Brad Rogers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

With the win, the Browns improved to 7–6. During the game, Myles Garrett set the franchise record for most sacks in a season, with 15.

Week 15: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Week 15: Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 0 000
Browns 0 0 000

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

After over 20 Browns players were infected with COVID-19 in the week leading up to the game, the game was postponed from its original date of December 18 to December 20.[16]


Division
AFC North
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Baltimore Ravens 8 5 0 .615 1–3 5–5 304 284 L2
Cleveland Browns 7 6 0 .538 2–2 4–5 278 289 W1
Cincinnati Bengals 7 6 0 .538 3–1 4–3 354 293 L2
Pittsburgh Steelers 6 6 1 .500 2–2 4–4 272 322 L1

Conference
AFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Kansas City Chiefs West 10 4 0 .714 4–1 5–4 .549 .527 W7
2[lower-alpha 1] New England Patriots East 9 4 0 .692 3–1 7–1 .476 .424 W7
3[lower-alpha 1] Tennessee Titans South 9 4 0 .692 4–1 6–3 .465 .466 W1
4 Baltimore Ravens North 8 5 0 .615 1–3 5–5 .485 .476 L2
Wild cards
5 Los Angeles Chargers West 8 6 0 .571 2–2 5–4 .552 .500 L1
6[lower-alpha 2] Indianapolis Colts South 7 6 0 .538 3–2 6–3 .467 .319 W1
7[lower-alpha 2] Buffalo Bills East 7 6 0 .538 3–1 5–5 .485 .424 L1
In the hunt
8[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] Cleveland Browns North 7 6 0 .538 2–2 4–5 .509 .390 W1
9[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] Cincinnati Bengals North 7 6 0 .538 3–1 5–3 .444 .401 L2
10[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 5] Denver Broncos West 7 6 0 .538 1–2 3–5 .450 .364 W1
11 Pittsburgh Steelers North 6 6 1 .500 2–2 4–4 .491 .487 L1
12[lower-alpha 6] Las Vegas Raiders West 6 7 0 .462 1–3 4–4 .532 .545 L2
13[lower-alpha 6] Miami Dolphins East 6 7 0 .462 2–2 4–5 .450 .397 W5
Eliminated from postseason contention
14 New York Jets East 3 10 0 .231 0–4 3–6 .509 .462 L1
15[lower-alpha 7] Houston Texans South 2 11 0 .154 2–2 2–7 .509 .423 L3
16[lower-alpha 7] Jacksonville Jaguars South 2 11 0 .154 0–4 2–6 .538 .500 L5
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 8]
  1. New England wins tiebreaker over Tennessee based on head-to-head win percentage.
  2. Indianapolis, Buffalo, Cleveland and Denver are ranked based on conference record. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Cincinnati (see below).
  3. Cleveland win tiebreaker over Denver based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Cincinnati (see below).
  4. Cleveland win tiebreaker over Cincinnati based on head-to-head victory.
  5. Cincinnati win tiebreaker over Denver based on conference record.
  6. Las Vegas wins tiebreaker over Miami based on head-to-head victory.
  7. Houston wins tiebreaker over Jacksonville based on head-to-head victory.
  8. When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

References
  1. Patsko, Scott (January 29, 2021). "Browns unveil logo to celebrate 75th anniversary of the franchise". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  2. "AFC Notes: Browns, Fisher, Broncos, Fleming".
  3. "Patriots Sign Wide Receiver Marvin Hall". Patriots.com. June 4, 2021.
  4. "Vikings Sign and Bring Back DT Sheldon Richardson".
  5. "Houston Texans Transactions (5-20-2021)". HoustonTexans.com. May 20, 2021.
  6. Shook, Nick (April 24, 2020). "Saints trade up, select LB Zack Baun with 74th pick". NFL.com. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  7. "Browns trade pass rusher Genard Avery to the Eagles in exchange for 2021 draft pick". CBS Sports. October 28, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  8. DaSilva, Carmen (October 15, 2019). "Rams trade 2021 draft pick to Browns for OL Austin Corbett". RamsWire. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  9. "Browns acquire safety Ronnie Harrison from Jaguars in trade". NFL.com. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  10. "Teller-traded-cleveland". clevelandbrowns.com. August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  11. Alper, Josh (March 17, 2020). "Broncos agree to trade Andy Janovich to Browns". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  12. "Browns 26, Bears 6: Myles Garrett sacks Justin Fields 4.5 times, defense holds Chicago to 1 net yard passing". Chronicle-Telegram. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  13. "Myles Garrett named AFC Defensive Player of the Week". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  14. Baker Mayfield out for Thursday’s game against Denver
  15. "Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson named FedEx Ground Player of the Week". WJW-TV. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  16. Amid COVID-19 outbreak, Browns vs. Raiders postponed until 5 p.m. Monday
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