Browns’ New Jerseys Revealed

The Browns Backers at American Legion Post 496 are auctioning off a helmet signed by quarterback Baker Mayfield. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal] Brownsfans 3

The Cleveland Browns revealed their highly-anticipated new alternate uniforms this past Saturday. The duds, which will be worn up to three times during the 2021 season, include multiple different throwback era touches as a tribute to the 75th anniversary season of football on the shores of Lake Erie.

Details

Some classic alterations to the current look with a change in the helmet and on the uniform piping. According to Andrew Gribble of the Browns’ website, “The Browns’ 75th Anniversary Uniform —– a white top featuring brown numbers shadowboxed with an orange outline —– closely matches what the team wore throughout its inaugural season. The Browns last sported this look in the 1946 All-America Football Conference Championship victory over the New York Yankees before switching to the traditional brown numbers that have remained a fixture on the Browns’ white jerseys throughout most of their existence. The jerseys also feature the team’s official 1946 patch, a logo that will also appear in the end zones at FirstEnergy Stadium throughout the 2021 season.”

Helmet Details

As for the helmet, some tweaks will be made that bring back legacies of Jim Brown, Otto Graham, and other early greats for Cleveland. The white stripe in the center stays, but the brown bonus stripes are gone. Per Gribble, “The Browns’ 75th Anniversary Uniform helmet features a white stripe down the middle with the players’ respective numbers on the side and gray facemasks. Cleveland wore the white stripe from 1952-1959 —– a stretch that included two of the team’s four NFL Championships —– before adding the two flanking brown stripes that are a staple of the helmets of today. The Browns wore numbers on their helmets from 1957-60 and on a handful of occasions from 2006-2008 as part of an alternate uniform. The Browns wore gray facemasks from 1961-74 and again from 2006-2014.”

More In-Depth

However, the look will not be a total throwback. Nike still plays a part in the current design. “The 75th Anniversary Uniform is complete with the team’s current white pants, which feature a brown stripe sandwiched by two orange stripes running down the side. The socks will feature three brown stripes and two orange stripes.”

In-Organization Hype

And for one member within the Browns’ leadership, these new uniforms will bring nostalgia and new excitement to the fans. “The Browns are one of those iconic franchises in all of sports, not just in the NFL,” Executive Vice President/Partner JW Johnson said. “We wanted to give a nod to the past and the players that have paved the way for the team that we have here today. It’s a way to thank them for everything they’ve done for this league, for this team, and for this city. We wouldn’t be here without the likes of Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Lou Groza, and Joe Thomas. We want to honor them. We want to respect them.”

Going Down Memory Lane

White seems to be a memorable color for Browns fans. White was the primary color the team wore for many a decade, and it seems fitting that the 75th Anniversary uniform is primarily white. For Johnson, His nostalgia for the white jerseys is sparked by looking at old footage and photos from past games. “We spent a lot of time going back and looking at old photos and the history of the team and working with our friends at Nike and the NFL to put this all together,” he said. “At the end of the day, like we said when we went back to the uniforms we’re currently wearing, we wanted something clean, iconic, traditional, and something that would honor the team and represent it appropriately.”

The Browns also have a limited-run 1946 Collection available in the team’s online store or at the Pro Shop at FirstEnergy Stadium.

With such a rich history of football at the shores of Lake Erie, fans are excited to see the new jerseys for the Cleveland Browns in 2021, with a wonderful tribute to past legacies.

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