The Cleveland Browns, a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, have a mascot known as "Chomps." However, they also have an unofficial mascot called "Elf." Elf is not an official mascot recognized or used by the team, but rather a fan-created character that has gained popularity among Browns fans. Elf is a small, mischievous character who is often depicted wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey and a pointed hat. He is often associated with good luck and is believed to bring luck to the team on game days. Fans often dress up as Elf during games, donning the signature hat and jersey to show their support for the team.
Browns introduce midfield artwork which is: Brownie the Elf
For 2022, the Browns had a contest in which the fans could vote on the new midfield logo plus the end zone markings. To no surprise, the winner is the original cartoon of Brownie the Elf.
Actually, there are many new aspects of the old beloved logo. More on that later. The origins of Brownie the Elf are lengthy, so here are the highlights.
The first depiction of Brownie the Elf appeared in a Cleveland Plain-Dealer ad for the upcoming Browns home game against the Miami Seahawks to be played on September 6 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium which held 81,000.
The Cleveland Rams had captured the NFL title in 1945 and promptly moved to Los Angeles when the new All-America Football Conference began its maiden season in 1946 and Cleveland was awarded a franchise.
The new Cleveland team was coached by Paul Brown, then the most famous sports person in the State of Ohio. The Rams did not wish to compete against anything Coach Brown touched, plus their gate wasn’t very good every season. They played their home games in League Park, a baseball stadium which seated only 22,500 patrons. In their final year in Cleveland, the Rams lost $64,000 despite winning the league title.
After Cleveland was officially christened the “Browns,” owner Mickey McBride wanted a logo to represent his new club. He was a big Notre Dame fan and loved their fighting Irishman depiction. But what type of logo does “the Browns” conjure up? A dessert? Mud? Steelers fans can give you a good answer here of a dollop of some dog extraction.
McBride discovered the brownies. These were mythical creatures invented by the Northern English. They wanted something to encourage young children and servants to do their chores. Their invention of the Brownies was that these creatures would come out at night and help out. This in itself made children and the help very curious so they continued with the work until it was done.
Every AAFC and NFL club had their own cartoon logo. The San Francisco 49ers displayed a rootin’ tootin’ gunslinger. The New York Football Giants had this enormous quarterback standing in the middle of the Polo Grounds. The Pittsburgh Steelers logo was a steelworker complete with hard hat kicking a football while on a steel girder.
Which means that childish drawings of their team was the norm.
Now that McBride had his logo idea set, Paul Brown knew an artist named A.D. Small from his Massillon coaching days. Small had been commissioned to do an artistic plaque for Coach Brown after he won his first state high school championship. Small drew the brownie character to suit the game of football. It then appeared in the first game advertisement.
Paul Brown named the character “Brownie” after a root beer sign painted on a downtown building in downtown Massillon. The logo for Brownie Caramel Creme Root Beer was a impish creature that resembled the English brownies. Brownie Root Beer began production in 1929 and recently the original recipe was purchased and the brand is sold at various supermarkets and online at sodaemporium.com.
After the Browns had won two straight AAFC titles, in 1948 Brownie was depicted wearing a crown. At one point, he was called “Brownie Elf.” The heightened interest in Brownie was the direct result of Plain-Dealer cartoonist Dick Dugan. He would depict Brownie (or Chief Wahoo for the Indians) for every game. A reader could tell if the Browns or Indians had won just by looking at the cartoon.
Tommy Flynn, a little person, was the Browns assistant equipment manager who would dress up as Brownie on game days. In 1950 when Cleveland merged into the NFL, the established league got rid of Flynn’s sideline antics claiming “minor league stuff.”
In 1953, only two NFL clubs had helmet logos - the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Colts. Coach Brown required his trainer, Leo Murphy, to paint a helmet with Brownie on the sides to gauge what it would look like. Once finished, Coach Brown took one look and said he hated it and that was that. Upon Murphy’s death, his children found that very helmet in their father’s basement.
Art Modell bought the Browns in 1961 and shelved Brownie - permanently. Modell was quoted as saying, “My first official act as owner of the Browns will be to get rid of that little f***er.”
1961 media guide
And that is exactly what happened. The 1961 media guide displayed Brownie while the 1962 version pictured Jim Brown.
When Al Lerner and Carmen Policy bought the new Browns in 1999, they re-instated Brownie. Several training camps have used Brownie as the camp logo: 2006, 2018 and 2022. Cleveland’s sideline poncho in 2009 had a Brownie appearance. The Browns alumni logo has Brownie as its centerpiece.
After the Haslams bought the Browns, a petition was started asking that the Brownie logo be abolished. If you agree, then sign up and you can be #16 on their list at https://www.change.org/p/cleveland-browns-the-brownie-elf-most-be-abolsih. Note that “abolish” is misspelled.
In 2020, New Era produced a cap that looked like Brownie was in “blackface.”
So, here is a situation. If Brownie is a Brownie and not an elf, why is he called Brownie the Elf? Where did “elf” even come from? They aren’t the Cleveland Elves. And if he is not an elf, but a brownie, shouldn’t he be “Brownie the Brownie?”
DBN contacted the Browns media relations department. Their response was, that if his name is “Brownie the Elf” then he must be an elf.
Okay, back to the new logo at midfield.
First off, it is friggin’ huge, colorful and looks great if you are a Browns fan who grew up with Brownie.
When comparing the original drawing of Small’s, there are some differences.
For one, his face appears more impish now instead of that of a small boy. Secondly, his rosy cheeks are missing. Next, his hair is no longer in strands but one big grouping. Fourth observation, his hat is smaller. Number 5: Brownie is now in short sleeves. Seis, look at his thumb on the stiff arm. It looks more like a finger, and it is positioned oddly off his hand. 7: Brownie is shorter. His front extended leg has been shortened. And finally, this is huge: his shoes are no longer cleats.
Fans often dress up as Elf during games, donning the signature hat and jersey to show their support for the team. The origin of Elf as a fan mascot is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have started around the 2018 NFL season. Since then, Elf has become a beloved figure among Browns fans, especially those who attend games at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Fans often create signs, banners, and other merchandise featuring Elf to show their allegiance to the team. Despite not being an official mascot, Elf has become an important symbol for Browns fans. The character's mischievous and fun-loving nature embodies the spirit of Cleveland and its passionate football fanbase. Elf is often seen as a way to bring some levity and joy to the sometimes tumultuous world of professional sports. While Chomps remains the official Cleveland Browns mascot, Elf has carved out a special place in the hearts of fans. The character serves as a reminder of the unique camaraderie and devotion that connect Browns fans across generations. Through wins and losses, Elf and the passionate fans persist, supporting the team with unwavering loyalty. In conclusion, Elf is an unofficial mascot associated with the Cleveland Browns. Created by fans, this character has become a symbol of support and luck for the team. Despite not being an officially recognized mascot, Elf has captured the hearts of Browns fans and embodies the spirit of the Cleveland community..
Reviews for "The Cleveland Browns Mascot Elf: An Iconic Symbol of Cleveland Sports"
1. John - 2/5 stars - The Cleveland Browns mascot elf was quite underwhelming. I expected something more creative and visually appealing, but instead, all we got was a generic-looking elf with the team's colors. It lacked any unique features or memorable characteristics, making it forgettable within minutes. As a fan, I was hoping for a mascot that could ignite the team spirit and bring excitement to the games, but sadly, this elf failed to deliver on those expectations.
2. Jessica - 1/5 stars - I have to say, the Cleveland Browns mascot elf is possibly the most disappointing mascot I've seen. It's just a sad, little elf that adds no value or joy to the team's image. The design is unimaginative and lacks creativity. It's as if they put zero effort into developing a mascot that could captivate fans and create a sense of unity. I really hope the team reconsiders their decision and comes up with something better in the future.
3. Mike - 2/5 stars - The concept of a mascot elf for the Cleveland Browns had potential, but the execution fell flat. The costume design was lackluster, and it seemed like they hurriedly put it together without much thought. The elf's presence during the games didn't contribute anything meaningful to the overall experience. To make matters worse, it felt forced and out of place. It's clear that the team needs to reevaluate their mascot strategy and come up with something more impactful.
4. Sarah - 1/5 stars - The Cleveland Browns mascot elf was a disappointment for me. It came across more as an afterthought than a well-thought-out mascot. The elf lacked personality and failed to create any sense of excitement or team spirit. It felt like the team just wanted to have a mascot for the sake of it without considering its impact or relevance. I hope they reconsider their mascot concept and invest in something that truly represents the team and its fanbase.