Countdown to 2020: Best Cleveland Browns player to wear No. 17

The best No. 17 for the Cleveland Browns was drafted in the 13th round

The countdown to the 2020 NFL season is upon us. With 17 days remaining until the Browns season opener, we continue the countdown by celebrating the best Cleveland Browns player to ever wear number 17: Brian Sipe.

Brian Sipe was drafted as an afterthought. The Browns selected Sipe in the 13th round of the 1972 NFL draft out of San Diego State University. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 195-pounds, Sipe was an unassuming gunslinger who led all of college football in pass completions his senior year under the tutelage of legendary coach and innovator, Don Coryell.

Sipe would spend his first two years in the NFL on the Browns’ taxi squad, or better known now as the practice squad. He would not see his first action on the field until 1974. He made his first three-game appearances in relief of incumbent starter Mike Phipps, but it was his third appearance that gave coaches confidence that Sipe could be the starting quarterback. Sipe led the Browns on a fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Denver Broncos 23-21. He started the next five games posting a 2-3 record.

In 1975, Sipe would only start two contests in which the Browns would lose both handily. However, the signal-caller would finally breakthrough in 1976 by starting in 12 games. Although Sipe and the Browns lost the first three contests he started that year, they were able to post a 7-2 mark in his last nine starts. For the first time since 1972, the Browns appeared to be putting the pieces of the puzzle together again.

A shoulder injury in the ninth game of the season ended Sipe’s 1977 campaign. However, Sipe was able to post another winning season going 5-4. The Browns finished with a 6-8 record and a coaching change was on the horizon.

Sam Rutigliano was tabbed the Browns head coach prior to the 1978 season. Although the Browns only posted a .500 season, it was evident that the change was a welcome one for Sipe. He posted his best career numbers up until that point throwing for 2,906 yards and 21 touchdowns. The fun was about to begin.

The 1979 and 1980 teams will always have a special place in Browns’ history. The Kardiac Kids gave their fans and the city of Cleveland as much excitement as perhaps any Browns team ever. Over the course of those two years, Sipe led the Browns on eight fourth-quarter comebacks and 11 game-winning drives.

Sipe, who was not especially risk-averse, led the NFL in both touchdowns passes and interceptions in 1979. However, it was the 1980 season that he will always be remembered for. Sipe led the Browns to an 11-5 record and threw for 4,132 yards and 30 touchdowns. In the process, Sipe was named first-team All-Pro, voted to the Pro Bowl, and won the NFL MVP. It was truly a season for the ages for Sipe.

After the heartbreaking playoff loss of ‘Red Right 88’, the Browns would have a disappointing 1981 campaign and would never be able to recapture their Kardiac Kids magic. Sipe would go on to play three more up and down seasons in Cleveland posting a 15-21 record as the starter. He would finish out his professional career by playing two seasons in the USFL.

Sipe’s name can be found at the top of the Browns’ all-time passing records. Sipe is number one in team history with 1,944 completions, 23,713 passing yards, and 154 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Browns Legends Program in 2002.

Brian Sipe is one of the three best quarterbacks in Browns’ history and he is the best player to ever wear number 17 for the franchise.