Cleveland Browns 2021 Legends Program honorees

The 2021 Cleveland Browns Legends Program honorees have been selected.

The Cleveland Browns announced the newest members to be inducted into their Legends Program: quarterback Bill Nelson, and linebacker D’Qwell Jackson.

Bill Nelson was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968 to backup Frank Ryan. After a 1-2 start to the season, Nelson took over as the starter and beat the Steelers, his former team, 31-24. From there, Nelson would go on to start the remainder of the season. Nelson posted a 9-2 record in 1968 and became the teams’ starter of the future.

Nelson rewarded the organization’s faith in him with a stellar 1969 campaign. The 7th year veteran quarterback led the team to a 10-3-1 record while posting career highs in touchdowns (23) and yards (2,743). Nelson led the Browns to the NFL Championship game, ultimately falling to the Minnesota Vikings 27-7. The savvy signal-caller was rewarded with his lone pro bowl nomination for his performance.

When all was said and done, Nelson started 51 games in Cleveland posting a 34-16-1 record as a starter. Nelson is still top 10 in Browns’ history in three significant passing categories: 689 completions (7th), 9,725 passing yards (7th), and 71 touchdowns (6th). After retiring from the game of football, Nelson moved to Orlando, Florida where he later passed away at the age of 78 in 2019.

D’Qwell Jackson was drafted by the Browns in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland. Jackson hit the ground running and immediately made an impact on the Browns defense as a rookie. The tenacious linebacker started 13 contests and racked up 61 solo tackles. By his third year in the NFL, Jackson led the entire league with 154 combined tackles.

After suffering a severe shoulder injury in 2009 that kept him off the field until 2011, Jackson returned to have his best season as a professional. Jackson posted 158 combined tackles and, once again, a league-leading 116 solo tackles in 2011. He would later leave Cleveland in free agency after the 2013 season to join the Indianapolis Colts.

Jackson was the heart and soul of the Browns defense and the unquestioned leader of that unit from the time he arrived in Cleveland until the moment he left. Although Jackson never received the national recognition that he was due, he was always beloved by the Browns faithful for the effort he gave every Sunday.

Both Jackson and Nelson are more than deserving of the honor being bestowed on them. The duo will be joined by Webster Slaughter and Josh Cribbs, who were unable to be honored last season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on September 26th when the Browns take on the Chicago Bears in week three at FirstEnergy Stadium.