Cleveland Browns: 30 greatest players in franchise history

Greatest players in Cleveland Browns history: 14. Bill Willis

Bill Willis played every season of his career with the Browns. Willis played eight seasons in Cleveland, beginning in the franchise’s inaugural season in 1946 and finishing his career in 1953. He played middle guard for the Browns, which is the same position as a middle linebacker in today’s age of football.

Willis was a first team All-League selection in seven of his eight seasons and was a second team All-League selection the other season. He also played in three Pro Bowls in his career from 1950-1952.

One of the biggest achievements in Willis’ career is permanently breaking the color barrier in professional football in 1946 along with another Browns teammate appearing later in this list.

Willis played football at Ohio State, but did not expect to play in the NFL due to there not being any African-Americans playing in the NFL at the time. After coaching for a season at Kentucky State in 1945, Browns head coach Paul Brown invited Willis to try out for the team at training camp. He made his impact by blowing past Frank Gatski and clobbering Otto Graham many times.

Willis won a NFL Championship with the Browns in 1950 and won four AAFC championships from 1946-1949. He is a member of the NFL’s 1940’s All-Decade team and is also a member of the Browns Ring of Honor. Willis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 1977. He is only one of two Browns defensive players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.