Countdown to 2020: Best Cleveland Browns player to wear No. 67

Who is the best Cleveland Browns player to wear number 67?

The Countdown to the 2020 NFL season is upon us. With 67 days remaining until the Browns season opener, we continue the countdown by celebrating the best Cleveland Browns player to ever wear number 67: Austin Pasztor.

Not all jersey numbers are created equal. That goes both ways. When it comes to the Cleveland Browns, for every 76, 60, and 32 there are some jerseys numbers that have just not seen success. Today’s entry in the Countdown to 2020 is one of those jersey numbers: 67.

The best player in Browns history to wear number 67 is Austin Pasztor. While Pasztor did not have a lengthy career or any tangible success to highlight, he is the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to his jersey number with the Browns.

Pasztor is the first Canadian to make the list, as he was born in Langton, Ontario. Although he was born in the great white North, Pasztor played his high school football at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. Fork Union has produced a ton of NFL talent over the years and many big colleges have used the academy to find top tier talent.

The Virginia Military Academy has been utilized by the Ohio State Buckeyes for years as Eddie George, Rickey Dudley, Cardale Jones, and Michael Thomas have all spent time at Fork Union. Former Browns: Vinny Testaverde, Terrance West, and Carlos Hyde have all attended FUMA as well.

Pasztor went on from Fork Union to play his collegiate career at the University of Virginia. After fulfilling his four years at UVA, Pasztor went undrafted in the 2012 NFL draft. However, Pasztor was selected fourth overall in the Canadian Football Leagues 2012 draft by the Edmonton Eskimos.

Instead of taking the Eskimos offer, Pasztor opted to stay south of the border and take his chances as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. Although he was cut by the Vikings at the end of camp, he was able to find a temporary home in Jacksonville playing right tackle for the Jaguars. Pasztor started 23 games for the Jaguars over the course of three seasons before being waived just prior to the 2015 season.

The Browns picked up Pasztor off of waivers and the 6-foot-7, 320lb offensive lineman appeared in every game that season. Pasztor even started four games for the Browns in 2015. Prior to the 2016 season, the decision was made to make Pasztor the starting right tackle. Pasztor was able to hang on to the job for the season, starting in all 16 games.

After the 2016 season, Pasztor’s one-year contract was up and the Browns chose not to re-sign him. He played two more partial seasons in the NFL for two different teams before his career came to a close.

The Cleveland Browns have a rich and illustrious history as an NFL franchise, but the number 67 is one of a few outliers in that tradition. Hopefully, a young player will decide to change that at some point in the near future. Until then, Austin Pasztor is the best player to wear number 67 for the Browns.