The Cleveland Browns mascot is known as Swagger. Swagger is an English bulldog and has been the team's mascot since 2014. He was introduced to the public during the team's home opener against the New Orleans Saints on September 14, 2014. Swagger is a beloved figure among Browns fans and is often seen roaming the sidelines during games. He has become a symbol of the team and its loyal fan base. Swagger has a distinctive orange and brown uniform that matches the team's colors.
The logo might look like a dog on the surface, but the winning design captures much more than that — with a few treats hidden in plain sight.
BIRTHDAY November 13, 2018 WEIGHT 125 lbs FAMILY 1 brother, 4 sisters 67,389 loyal fans at FirstEnergy Stadium HOMETOWN Rootstown, OH CHEW TOYS Terrible Towels, elk antlers FAVORITE TREAT Liver, Bengal tail. PROPELLED BY PAUL BROWN , Otto Graham, Lou Groza and, yes, Brownie the Elf, the Cleveland Browns won four consecutive All-America Football Conference titles from 1946-49.
Swagger has a distinctive orange and brown uniform that matches the team's colors. The Cleveland Browns are one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the National Football League (NFL), so it is fitting that they have a mascot that represents the team's history and tradition. Swagger is a reminder of the toughness and resilience that the Browns are known for.
Who is Brownie the Elf? Inside the rise, fall, and revival of the Cleveland Browns' beloved -- and bemusing -- mascot
CLEVELAND -- Nobody, at least still living, knows for sure how Brownie the Elf came to be the first official mascot of the Cleveland Browns some 76 years ago.
Yet one fact is certain: It was Art Modell who put the elf on the shelf after buying the team in 1961.
"My first official act as owner of the Browns," Modell told newspaper reporters at the time, "will be to get rid of that little f---er."
Brownie is back -- and bigger than ever.
Topping a preseason online fan vote, Brownie has returned as the team's midfield logo, an oversized rendition of his original mysterious appearance preceding Cleveland's inaugural season in 1946.
The latest caricature of Brownie spans the 45-yard lines horizontally, exceeds the hashmarks vertically, and can be easily spotted from airplanes passing overhead.
And if you're bemused about Brownie's existence as an NFL mascot, well, you're not alone.
"I don't know what to think about it," Cleveland pass-rusher Myles Garrett said. "It's original, it's unique. But I've always been more of a fan of the dog. I mean, we're the Dawg Pound, but we've got an elf?
"I think we're a little bit confused on what route we want to go creatively."
One of the most inexplicable losses in franchise history sullied Brownie's grandiloquent midfield debut on Sunday. Cleveland became the first team in 21 years to blow a 13-point lead in the final two minutes. With 1:55 to play, the New York Jets scored a 66-yard touchdown, recovered an onside kick, then scored another touchdown to stun the Browns, 31-30. In another fan poll via 850 ESPN Cleveland, more than 5% of voters actually blamed Brownie for the defeat.
Brownie might be 0-1 as Cleveland's midfield logo heading into Thursday night's clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video). But more than seven decades ago, Brownie was the boyish face of pro football's most dominant dynasty. So prolific, he very nearly once became the logo on the helmet.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has worn Brownie the Elf gear almost every day since becoming Cleveland's head coach in 2020. Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire
THE LEGEND OF the Brownies began in Britain and dates back to at least the early 16th century. According to John T. Kruse, an author and blogger of British fairy lore, the first published reference to the Brownies came in 1522.
"He's a small, hairy . creature that lives in houses and farms with people," Kruse told ESPN of the mythical beings. "He undertakes a range of domestic and agricultural chores on the understanding that he gets free board and lodging from the humans."
As Brownie The Elf re-debuts onto the field for @Browns home games, we look back at the first time Brownie debuted.
It was the day the Browns played the first game in team history. pic.twitter.com/5l9UaOhcDT
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) September 18, 2022Despite their diligence, Brownies can be quite finicky.
Kruse noted that Brownies appreciate milk and fresh bread being left out for them at night. But they detest being spied on, whether working or eating. And they especially despise both compliments and criticisms.
"Any gift of clothes really antagonizes him. It's seen as an insult or some sort of subjection," Kruse said. "The usual result of this is that he'll undo everything he's done, make a mess in the house, then leave forever."
The Dobby character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books is derived from the Brownie legend, which began to surface in America in the early 20th Century. In 1916, the Girl Scouts, referencing the same Brownie legend, started calling their members ages 7-9 "Brownies," taken from the story "The Brownies and Other Tales" by Juliana Horatia Ewing, which was originally published in 1870.
In 1929, the Atlas Beverage Company in Detroit began producing a Brownie caramel cream root beer, whose bottles were adorned with an elf. The company soon put a sign advertising the soda on the side of a building in downtown Massillon, Ohio.
Off that, so the story goes, Brownie the Elf was born.
The legend of the Brownies began in Britain and dates back to at least the early 16th Century. David Richard/AP Photo
BEFORE PAUL BROWN was winning NFL titles as coach of the Cleveland Browns, he was stacking state championships at Massillon High School.
Going into his final season at Massillon in 1940, Brown commissioned a local artist, A.D. Small, with creating a logo for the Tigers -- Obie (which stands for orange and black, Massillon's colors).
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Brown was hired to coach Cleveland's new pro football franchise. Owner Mickey McBride and the team held a fan contest to determine the nickname. "Browns" was the winning submission, in honor of the first coach. Brown initially vetoed it. Another submission -- the "Panthers" -- was chosen instead, until a local businessman informed the team that he owned the rights to "Cleveland Panthers." Brown finally relented on the name "Browns."
Next, the team needed a logo.
"But what does 'Browns' represent?" said Browns historian Barry Shuck, who's been pursuing the Brownie the Elf origin story for years. "Mud? A dessert? Dog poop?"
Brownie first appeared in an ad promoting ticket sales days before the Browns’ first game against the Miami Seahawks in 1946. Barry Shuck
Did Brown come up with the idea for Brownie the Elf from that root beer sign in Massillon? And did he, again, have Small produce the drawing?
"If you look at Obie and you look at Brownie, it's the same character," said Shuck, who also writes for the Browns site DawgsByNature.com. "They're both running. They both got a stiff arm. They're both wearing a hat."
The Cleveland-area newspapers made no mention of Brownie until he appeared in an ad promoting ticket sales days before the Browns' first game against the Miami Seahawks in 1946.
Steve King, a longtime sportswriter in Northeast Ohio who subsequently worked for the Browns from 2004-13, has also spent years digging into Brownie the Elf's conception. He even once asked Paul Brown's son, Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown, if he knew where Brownie came from (Mike Brown didn't).
Yet through his research, King came to the same conclusion as Shuck.
"I'm sure I've gotten as close as anyone was going to get," King said. "The truth is buried in a cemetery somewhere -- and I don't know where. . but the mystery of Brownie is what makes it so cool."
Did former Cleveland coach Paul Brown come up with the idea for Brownie the Elf after seeing a Brownie caramel cream root beer sign in Massillon, Ohio? Barry Shuck
PROPELLED BY PAUL BROWN, Otto Graham, Lou Groza and, yes, Brownie the Elf, the Cleveland Browns won four consecutive All-America Football Conference titles from 1946-49.
Tommy Flynn, an assistant equipment manager, would dress up like Brownie on game days and emulate Brown on the sidelines.
In addition to his role as the team mascot, Swagger is also involved in various community events and charitable initiatives. He is a popular figure among fans of all ages and is often seen interacting with them during games and events. Overall, the Cleveland Browns mascot, Swagger, is an important part of the team's identity and adds to the overall fan experience. His presence on the sidelines and in the community helps to connect fans to the team and create a sense of camaraderie..
Reviews for "Unveiling the New Cleveland Browns Mascot"
1. John - 1 star - The Cleveland Browns mascot is the worst! It's just a plain orange helmet. How unoriginal is that? I don't understand why they couldn't come up with something more creative and fun. It's not entertaining to watch a guy running around in an oversized helmet. The mascot adds nothing to the game experience and is just plain boring. I hope they come up with something better soon!
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I find the Cleveland Browns mascot to be quite underwhelming. It's just a helmet, no face, no personality. It doesn't add any excitement or energy to the games. I've seen other NFL team mascots that are much more engaging and entertaining. It's a missed opportunity for the Cleveland Browns organization to create a memorable and unique mascot that could bring some fun to their games. Overall, I was disappointed with their choice of mascot.
3. Mike - 1 star - The Cleveland Browns mascot is a complete waste. It's just a guy in an orange helmet, not even a full costume or anything. It looks so amateurish and doesn't represent the team in any way. Other teams have mascots that are creative and entertaining, while the Cleveland Browns just have this guy running around in an oversized helmet. It's a shame that they couldn't come up with something better to represent their team. I hope they reconsider their mascot choice in the future.
4. Emily - 2 stars - The Cleveland Browns mascot is just so uninteresting. It's a plain orange helmet, and that's it. There's nothing exciting or engaging about it. It doesn't bring any energy to the games or add any value to the experience. It's a missed opportunity for the team to create a memorable mascot that could connect with fans and enhance the game-day atmosphere. I hope they rethink their choice and come up with something better in the future.