Cleveland Browns: Top 10 quarterbacks of all-time
By Thomas Moore
Frank Ryan last threw a pass in an NFL game in 1968, but amazingly he still remains the last quarterback to lead the Cleveland Browns to an NFL championship.
Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round of the 1958 NFL Draft, the Browns acquired Ryan during the summer of 1962 and he took over the starting job midway through the season after quarterback Jim Ninowski was injured.
In his five full seasons as the Browns starting quarterback, Ryan led the club to two championship games, had the team in contention for two others, and led the Browns to the playoffs in 1967. He also made the Pro Bowl from 1964 to 1966.
He also led the NFL in 1966 with 29 touchdown passes, and his 2,974 passing yards that season stood as the Browns’ single-season record until Brian Sipe threw for 3,793 yards in 1979.
But Ryan’s finest day came in the 1964 title game against the Baltimore Colts, when he threw three touchdown passes as the Browns defeated the allegedly unbeatable Colts, 27-0.
But that high point in his career came with a price for Ryan, who annoyed Baltimore defensive end Gino Marchetti by wanting to play until the final whistle. Marchetti vowed revenge and got it two weeks later at the Pro Bowl, when he sacked Ryan on a play in the second quarter, which resulted in a separated shoulder for Ryan.
While he would go on to play four more successful seasons with the Browns and make the Pro Bowl in 1965 and 1966, the injury continued to bother Ryan and eventually brought his production down.
Ryan’s 29 touchdown passes in 1966 is still the second-most in franchise history, and he sits fourth on the all-time franchise list in passing yards (13,361) and third in touchdown passes (134).
Next: No. 3: Brian Sipe (1972 to 1983)