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Cleveland Browns: 15 greatest moments in team history

By Randy Gurzi

14 Nov 1999: Dylan McCutcheon #33of the Cleveland Browns celebrates with teammate Earl Little #20 during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport
14 Nov 1999: Dylan McCutcheon #33of the Cleveland Browns celebrates with teammate Earl Little #20 during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Browns defeated the Steelers 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport /
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Ozzie Newsome Cleveland Browns
CANTON, OH – AUGUST 3: Baltimore Ravens General Manager/Executive Vice President and Hall of Fame tight end, Ozzie Newsome (L), presents former offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden of the Baltimore Ravens with his Hall of Fame bust during the NFL Class of 2013 Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on Aug. 3, 2013 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Greatest moments in Cleveland Browns history: 5. Clay Matthews, Ozzie Newsome in the same draft

Eventually, we will all be able to look back at the 1978 NFL Draft and say that the Browns found two Hall of Fame players that year. As it stands now, there’s one as former tight end Ozzie Newsome was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 after a sensational career for the Browns.

Newsome, the No. 23 overall pick back in ’78 played for 13 seasons with Cleveland before moving to the front office. Since then, he has done great in that job for the Baltimore Ravens as Newsome moved with the team when the franchise exited following the 1995 season. It’s unfortunate his front office work is benefiting a divisional rival, but his contributions as a player were still outstanding as he made three Pro Bowls and is still the all-time leader in receptions and yards in Cleveland’s history with 662 catches for 7,980 yards.

As for their other great pick that draft, the Browns choose linebacker Clay Matthews, Jr. with their first pick which was the No. 12 overall selection. Matthews, who came up short for a bid in the Hall of Fame in 2019 (but shouldn’t have), is the Browns all-time leader in tackles with 1,430, which he amassed over 16 seasons with the franchise. He also made it to four Pro Bowls and had an impressive 69.5 career sacks.

The Browns may have had their share of misses in the NFL Drafts, but in 1978, they completely knocked both these picks out of the park as they landed two of the best players in team history.

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