The Cleveland Browns, a professional football team in the National Football League (NFL), have a rich and storied history. However, one aspect of their history that is often overlooked is their original mascot. When the team was first established in 1945 by Arthur B. McBride and Paul Brown, they were named after their head coach, Paul Brown. The team's original mascot was a live dog named "Brownie." Brownie was a boxer breed and served as the team's unofficial mascot for the first few years of their existence.

Browns bring back original Brownie the Elf logo at midfield

The Browns original logo Brownie the Elf will “grace the 50-yard line of FirstEnergy Stadium for all Browns home games this season,” starting with Sunday's game against the Jets, according to Tim Bielik of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The team unveiled their new field design yesterday which "features Brownie the Elf at midfield running the football and using a stiff arm.” It was one of four field designs fans "could vote on for this season." Two of the designs “featured Brownie the Elf at the 50-yard line" while the other two “featured the Browns helmet at midfield.” This will be the first time since 2016 that the Browns have had a midfield logo (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 9/14). In Akron, Chris Pugh writes Brownie "served as the team’s primary logo from 1948 until 1969." Starting in 1970 the Browns were “represented by a logo-less orange helmet." Brownie was "one of three original logos for the Browns" when they came into existence starting in 1946 (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 9/14).

BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT: YAHOO SPORTS’s Chris Cwik notes Brownie was reportedly “deemed too childish” by former owner Art Modell in the 1960s, and was “put aside.” The logo has “seen some use over the past couple decades,” but the new midfield logo is the “most prominent way he's been featured in quite some time” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/13). Browns EVP & Partner JW Johnson said, “We haven't really showcased him as much as we'd like to. Between myself and [Browns SVP/Marketing & Media] Brent Rossi, we decided that we should bring him back. It's been well-received” (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/13). NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt said "all the Cleveland fans like this. it doesn’t matter what everybody else on Twitter thinks, the fans voted on that, they wanted to bring it back” (“Good Morning Football,” NFL Network, 9/14). ESPN’s Kimberley Martin: “Between Jacoby Brissett, the puppies at training camp and this elf, the Browns are just trying to be the most lovable organization right now.” But ESPN’s Domonique Foxworth said the Browns are “trying to misdirect us” (“Get Up,” ESPN, 9/14). FS1’s Craig Carton said “Fanatics is going to sell a hell of a lot of” merchandise with the logo (“The Carton Show,” FS1, 9/14).

THE SOCIAL NETWORK: Not surprisingly, Twitter users had fun with the Browns' new midfield logo:

• Comedian Ricky Smith: "To an outsider, the Browns have to be confusing as hell. An elf on the field, barking like dogs in the stands, and named after a color."
• NFL analyst Matt Chatham: "A logo with terrible ball security, a fumble just waiting to happen."
• Rivals.com's Justin Rowland: "Dont love or hate it. but this looks like a real throwback. Looks like an authentic 40s/50s rendering."
• BetSided's Ben Heisler: "Your move, @KeeblerUS."
• Barstool's Jeff Lowe: "Good choice. Wish they painted in the end zones. But this looks cool."
• The Ringer's Rodger Sherman: "the Browns have two mascots. One is an adorable mastiff. Big dog! Good dog! One is an uncanny horror from another realm who will inhabit your nightmares. Guess which one they chose to put on the field!"
• Fox Sports' Charlotte Wilder: "Browns marketing: how can we get people to talk about something else. Grounds crew: say no more."

RETURN OF RED? In K.C., Pete Grathoff wonders if red end zones could be "returning" for the Chiefs' home opener against the Chargers on "Thursday Night Football." The team “shared a video of the preparation being done” to the Arrowhead Stadium field and it "seems there also will be a new logo at midfield." Gold-colored end zones were a "big hit when they were used a few years ago" (K.C. STAR, 9/14).

A Little History of Brownie the Elf

[I wrote this back in December 2006 for Uni Watch. It was actually my first piece as Uni Watch Intern, so naturally I chose a topic near and dear to my heart: Brownie the Elf. It's been almost three years since it ran and I'm sure there are plenty of people who never read the original post or simply don't know, or never wondered about, the history of our little elf. Reprinted with some minor edits for your edification.]

The story of Brownie the Elf the logo begins long before the Cleveland Browns adopted the little creature — long before the team even existed, in fact. "Brownies" date back to folklore, where they were elf-like creatures who helped out with household chores as long as you left them little goodies to eat (further background is available here, here, and here, and the cover illustration from a children's tale entitled "Brownie and the Cook" can be seen here). Palmer Cox was one of the first artists to illustrate Brownie on a consistent basis in his cartoons. He began drawing and using the elves in advertising work that he produced for different companies, including Kodak.

All of which brings us, finally, to the Cleveland Browns.

The association of the elf and the gridiron Browns begins in the late 1940s with Arthur McBride, who was the team's owner at the time. During a string of four incredibly successful seasons from 1946-49 (each of which resulted in an All American Football Conference championship), McBride sought to make his team more recognizable and marketable with music, parades, marching bands, and so on. He also asked for submissions for mascot logos, and after careful consideration chose Brownie as the new face of the team.

Brownie got an update around 1950 and looked like this until 1969. Alternate logos included an orange elf from 1950-69, and a halfback elf from 1960-69. After the Browns won the NFL title in 1964 (yes, it was that long ago, Cleveland fans), Brownie was often depicted with a crown signifying the team's achievement.

Even representatives from the Cleveland Browns are befuddled as to the exact origin, date, and key figures in the creation of the logo (which made its first appearance in an ad for tickets to the 1946 opening game against the Miami Seahawks). However, many of the earliest versions of the elf are credited to Dick Dugan, who became the sports cartoonist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and often depicted Brownie in battle against the team's opponents, like the Broncos.

Cleveland fans loved the athletically inclined little creature with pointed shoes, whose image could be seen adorning various publications and advertisements (from both the team and the public), such as in this 1949 Media Guide.

So, what do you do with a logo that the fans love?

Well, if you're Art Modell, you get rid of it. Apparently, Modell, who became the team's owner in 1961, was completely embarrassed by the elf and hated it so much that in the mid-1960s he began to phase it out. Yes, in addition to taking the team from Cleveland, Modell also was responsible for putting the lovable Brownie on the unemployment line.

Thankfully, when the Browns were resurrected in 1999, Brownie got a new lease on life. New owner Randy Lerner has made a big push to use the elf logo more and more for the organization. "I think it's a great anchor for our tradition and for the look and feel of the Browns," he has said. "But I also understand that there is something to freshening up the act, so I think that's a balancing act we're having right now."

As you can see from the team's sideline ponchos, the organization is using Brownie in more ways than just for merchandise sales (although it's clearly evident from the hats and shirts and fleeces that there is a definite push in that direction too). In fact, the Browns have used the elf logo on the 2006 Training Camp Patch celebrating the franchise's 60th anniversary, and a throwback elf logo appears on the front of their 2006 Media Guide (here's a close-up view). Fans have embraced Brownie, too — one guy has gotten permanent reminder of his allegiances.

While Brownie's revival is welcome news, there's one place that the elf should never appear, on the helmet (and thankfully, Lerner agrees). Paul Brown actually proposed this idea in 1953, but dismissed the idea after seeing mock-ups created by then trainer Leo Murphy. Good thing too, because the only thing that should ever be added to the team's helmets are uniform numbers, like the ones the team wore with for a throwback game against the Bengals.

We're generally pleased with Brownie's reappearance. It adds a great traditional aspect to the team's imagery, which meshes nicely with the more recent addition of the "Dawg" logo (but please, let's not have them mesh like this, ideas that belong in the same graveyard as this one).

Three other Brownie items of note:

• Brownie was also pressed into mascot duty by the St. Louis Browns baseball team just prior to their move to Baltimore (where they became the Orioles). During this brief run, Brownie appeared on the team's jersey sleeve , on the cover of the team's 1952 schedule, and even on the door to owner Bill Veeck's office.

• "Elf Brownie" is also the name of a typeface.

• Need a last-minute Christmas gift? Live near northeastern Ohio? You can get plenty of Brownie-related merchandise at the GPS Gift Gallery in Rocky River, Ohio, the self-proclaimed "Home of the Brownie Elf."

St. Louis Browns Logo

I just noticed this on a 1953 card. Why in the world was this the Browns’ team logo??

" Brownie was a boxer breed and served as the team's unofficial mascot for the first few years of their existence. Brownie quickly became popular among fans and players alike. He would often be seen on the sidelines during games, providing a source of inspiration and motivation for the team.

Comments

That's Brownie the Elf. It was the Browns' logo in 1952 and 1953, coinciding with Bill Veeck's ownership of the team (he bought the team in 1951, and then was forced to sell them, prior to their move to Baltimore in 1954). It may be a play on Eddie Gaedel, who famously went to the plate in a game in 1951. Brownie was also the original logo for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. Steve

Have no idea Dave. But I'm guessing Bill Veeck changed the logo just to get attention - he was referred to as "Brownie the Elf " - I only know that since it was used also and before - I believe - by the Cleveland Browns FB team in the early 40s? Don't think it was called "Brownie" tho? I just looked up to see if there's anything on the "reason" behind the change? Couldn't find anything other than the logo they had before.

Brownie the elf became mascot of the Cleveland Browns in the late 1940s under the ownership of Arthur McBride. Bill Veeck was owner of the Cleveland Indians at that same time. Veeck bought the St. Louis Browns in 1951. I'm speculating, but Veeck was likely familiar with Brownie the elf from his time in Cleveland, and thought it was a good fit for his baseball team as well. -Michael

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Brownie's loyalty and tenacity mirrored the characteristics that the team aspired to possess on the field. Despite being a unique and beloved mascot, Brownie's time as the Browns' mascot was short-lived. In 1950, the team decided to change their logo and mascot to a brownie elf, a small mythical creature often associated with good luck. The brownie elf, named "Brownie the Elf," replaced the live dog as the team's official mascot. While Brownie the Elf is still the official mascot of the Cleveland Browns to this day, many fans still have fond memories of the team's original live mascot, Brownie. His presence on the sidelines and his role in shaping the team's identity during their early years should not be forgotten. In conclusion, the Cleveland Browns' original mascot was a live dog named Brownie. Although he was eventually replaced by the brownie elf, Brownie played an important role in the team's early history and remains a cherished part of their legacy..

Reviews for "The revival of the Cleveland Browns' original mascot: a new era for the team"

1. Jane Doe - 1/5 stars - The Cleveland Browns' original mascot is absolutely terrible. It is no wonder they updated it. The mascot looks outdated and uninspiring. Its design lacks creativity and imagination. Plus, it does not represent the spirit and energy of the team. I am glad they made the decision to change it because the old mascot did not do justice to the Browns.

2. John Smith - 2/5 stars - The old Cleveland Browns mascot was just plain boring. It was the same old generic mascot that you see at any sports event. There was nothing unique or special about it. I think the team made the right move by introducing a new mascot that would better represent the franchise. The old mascot needed a serious upgrade to match the enthusiasm and dedication of the Browns fans.

3. Sarah Thompson - 1/5 stars - The original Cleveland Browns mascot was a total disappointment. It lacked personality and failed to connect with the fans. It seemed like the team didn't put much thought into creating an engaging and memorable mascot. It was just a forgettable figure on the sidelines. I am relieved that the team decided to revamp their mascot, as the previous one was simply not up to par.

The influence of the Cleveland Browns' original mascot in sports branding