Cleveland Browns: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time
By Randy Gurzi
player. 53. . QB. (1993-95). Vinny Testaverde. 9
After playing with Bernie Kosar at Miami, Vinny Testaverde ended up taking his job from him in 1993 when he came to the Browns along with head coach Bill Belichick.
After originally backing up Kosar, he finally took the reins, which led to the release of the former starter. That being said, it did end up working out for Kosar, as he ended up getting a Super Bowl ring after leaving with the 1993 Dallas Cowboys.
Testaverde, the former No. 1 overall pick back in 1987, started six games that season and went 3-3 as the starter. He then led them to a 9-4 record in 13 starts the following year. Overall, Testaverde had a winning record with the franchise, going 16-15 as the starter under center.
Despite playing just three seasons in Cleveland, Testaverde is ninth all-time in passing yardage in Browns’ history with 7,255 yards and eighth in touchdowns with 47. Had the franchise never moved to Baltimore, he would have added even more to those totals.
Testaverde went with the team when they became the Baltimore Ravens and played two more seasons before leaving in free agency. He had a record of just 8-20-1 in that span, but did throw for 4,177 yards in 1996 and made the Pro Bowl.
He added another 2,971 yards in 1997, which would have equaled 14,403 yards had those five seasons counted as being with one team. That number would have placed him fourth all-time in Cleveland history behind just Brian Sipe, Otto Graham and Kosar.
After leaving the Browns, Testaverde ended up playing for five more teams and lasted in the NFL until 2007. He was one of the longest-tenured players, lasting 21 years and playing until the age of 44.