Cleveland Browns · Franchise era 5 of 6
The Browns return: the Cleveland Browns story
Franchise era
1999—2017
The Browns return
Cleveland Browns
The story in one sentence
The restored franchise returned in 1999 but cycled through leadership and quarterbacks, with Thomas providing Hall of Fame stability amid the turnover.
An expansion-style rebirth becomes a long rebuild
Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs and Joe Haden gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for talent returns, stability does not.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1999
What came before
A homegrown contender reached three conference championship games in four seasons before The Drive and The Fumble became permanent Cleveland memories.
2003-01-05
Wild Card: Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers
After 2017
What came next
Cleveland ended its long playoff-win drought in 2020 and built an elite defense around Garrett, but quarterback decisions have kept the era unsettled.
The core