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Ranking the top 5 Cleveland Browns coaches of all time

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 16, 1962: (L to R) Head coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns confers with quarterback Frank Ryan #13 on the sidelines during a game on September 16, 1962 against the New York Giants at Municpal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.19620916-0221962 Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 16, 1962: (L to R) Head coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns confers with quarterback Frank Ryan #13 on the sidelines during a game on September 16, 1962 against the New York Giants at Municpal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.19620916-0221962 Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images /
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Cleveland Browns
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 7: Quarterback Bill Nelsen #16 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass behind the blocking of offensive linemen Mitch Johnson #74, Jim Copeland #64, John Demarie #65 and Gene Hickerson #66 during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on November 7, 1971 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 26-9. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

5. Nick Skorich: 1971-1974

Nick Skorich only coached the Cleveland Browns for four seasons, but he found himself having a good bit of success for them in that span. He took over in 1971 after spending the previous three seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator under head coach Blanton Collier.

Twice as the offensive coordinator, Skorich led the Browns to a top-five offense and despite falling to 15th in the league in his final season in that role, they were still seventh overall in yards according to Pro Football Reference.

Following the 1970 season, Collier retired and that led to the promotion of Skorich, who was about to take on head coaching duties for the second time in his career. The first came back in 1961 when he coached the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons.

In Philly, he had success right away, going 10-4. However, he only won five more games in the following two seasons which led to him moving to Cleveland as an assistant in 1964, a role he occupied until being promoted to offensive coordinator.

As the head coach of the Browns, he had similar success out of the gate that he did with the Eagles. Skorich was 9-5 in 1971 and made the playoffs. He followed that up with a 10-4 record and a playoff berth, but sadly was knocked out in their only postseason game in each campaign.

Skorich went 7-5-2 in 1973 and then in 1974 he was just 4-10 and was replaced with Forrest Gregg. One thing that stood out about Skorich’s tenure was his ability to help scout talent. During his short tenure, the team landed Doug Dieken, Greg Pruitt, and eventual; NFL MVP Brian Sipe.

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