The 2011 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and its 59th season as a member of the
National Football League (NFL). The team had hoped to improve on its
2010 season, where it finished with a record of 5–11 and placed third in the
AFC North, however, the team was eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14. This season marked the second season under the leadership of team president
Mike Holmgren and general manager
Tom Heckert, as well as the first season under head coach
Pat Shurmur. The Browns played all of their home games at
Cleveland Browns Stadium in
Cleveland, Ohio.
Off-season
Personnel changes
On January 3, 2011, one day after the 2010 season, the Browns fired head coach
Eric Mangini. In two seasons with the Browns, Mangini had a record of 10–22 and a disappointing 2–10 record against division opponents.[1]
On January 13, the team hired former
St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator
Pat Shurmur to replace Mangini as head coach. Shurmur served as the Rams' offensive coordinator from 2009–2010, and was an offensive assistant with the
Philadelphia Eagles from 1999–2008. This is his first opportunity as an NFL head coach.[2]
On January 21, Shurmur made his first addition to the coaching staff, by hiring
Dick Jauron as defensive coordinator. Jauron, who most recently served as the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary coach, has served as defensive coordinator for the
Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995–98, head coach of the
Chicago Bears from 1999–2003, and head coach of the
Buffalo Bills from 2006–09.[3] Jauron replaces
Rob Ryan, who became the defensive coordinator of the
Dallas Cowboys.
On January 25, the Browns hired Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator. Tabor most recently served as the Chicago Bears' assistant special teams coach from 2008–2010.[4] Tabor replaces
Brad Seely, who became the special teams coordinator of the
San Francisco 49ers.
The rest of the Browns' position coaches were retained from Mangini's staff. The Browns have not hired an offensive coordinator, as Shurmur intends to call the offensive plays for the team.[6]
The Browns did not have a 3rd[32] or 6th round selection.[34] The Browns traded their original 7th round selection[35] but later received a new 7th round selection as a compensatory pick.
On June 16, it was announced that the Browns would be wearing white jerseys for all home games. The Browns had previously worn white at home during the 1950s–1980s and again in the early 2000s.[42]
Because the home team for all Browns' away games chose to wear their colored jersey, the Browns wore the same uniform for all 16 games for the first time in franchise history (although the Browns wore their brown jerseys for three preseason games).
After the third preseason game, all NFL teams had to reduce their rosters to 80 players. On August 28, The Browns released eight players, the majority of them being undrafted free agents.[39][43]
After the final preseason game, all teams had to reduce their rosters to 53 players. The Browns released 25 players and placed two players – RB
Brandon Jackson and G
Eric Steinbach – on injured reserve. Notable players released include QB
Jarrett Brown and DB
Coye Francies.[38]
The Browns began the season with a division game against the
Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals struck first, with two
Mike Nugent field goals and a
Jermaine Gresham touchdown reception. Down 13–0, the Browns struck back, with
Colt McCoy completing two touchdown passes to give Cleveland the lead at halftime.
Phil Dawson gave the Browns an insurance field goal, but late in the fourth, Bengals backup QB
Bruce Gradkowski caught the Browns defense slow out of the huddle and hit
A. J. Green for a 41-yard touchdown that proved to be the game winner. With the 27–17 loss, the Browns started the season 0–1.
Week 2: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 2: Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
The Browns took on the
Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, with both teams looking to rebound from losses. The Colts moved the ball well early, but had to settle for two
Adam Vinatieri field goals to take a 6–0 lead. The Browns answered with an
Evan Moore touchdown reception from
Colt McCoy. The Colts briefly regained the lead on another Vinatieri field goal, but the Browns responded with a
Peyton Hillis touchdown run to take a 14–9 lead into halftime. The Colts added another field goal in the third, but the Browns scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth to put the game away and defeat the Colts 27–19. With the win, the Browns improved to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 3: Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
The Browns faced the
Miami Dolphins without their leading rusher
Peyton Hillis in a Week 3 matchup. The Dolphins took an early lead, converting a
Colt McCoy interception into a 7–0 lead on a touchdown pass from
Chad Henne. The Browns tied the game on a touchdown pass from McCoy to
Joshua Cribbs. The Dolphins took the lead again on a
Dan Carpenter field goal, and took a 10–7 lead into halftime. The Browns again tied the game in the third with
Phil Dawson's field goal. The Dolphins added two more field goals, and had the Browns down six points in the final minutes. McCoy led the Browns down the field, and hit
Mohamed Massaquoi on a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Browns a last-minute, 17–16 victory. With the win, the Browns improved to 2–1 and it also became the first season since 2007 to where the team was actually at least a game above .500.
Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 4: Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
In reaction to this game, Cleveland comedian
Mike Polk filmed a video at Cleveland Browns Stadium in which he berated the Browns and dubbed the stadium a "factory of sadness", a nickname that has caught on for both the stadium and the Browns themselves.
Week 10: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week Ten: St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Rams
0
10
0
3
13
Browns
3
6
3
0
12
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: November 13
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), (Cloudy) / Windy Gusting to Gale Force
^
abOn Day 1 of the draft, after trading with Atlanta (see below) the Browns traded their 1st and 3rd round picks (Nos. 27 and 70, used to select
Jon Baldwin and
Justin Houston, respectively) to the
Kansas City Chiefs for their first round selection (No. 21, used to select
Phil Taylor)
^
abOn Day 1 of the draft, the Browns traded their 1st round pick (No. 6, used to select
Julio Jones) to the
Atlanta Falcons for their 1st (No. 27, traded to
Kansas City), 2nd (No. 59, used to select
Greg Little), and 4th (No. 124, used to select
Owen Marecic) round picks, as well as the Falcons' first and fourth round picks in
2012.
^
abOn day 3 of the draft, the Browns traded their two 6th round picks (Nos. 168 and 170, used to select
DeMarcus Love and
Mistral Raymond, respectively) to the
Minnesota Vikings for their fifth round pick (No. 150, used to select
Jason Pinkston).
The 2011 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and its 59th season as a member of the
National Football League (NFL). The team had hoped to improve on its
2010 season, where it finished with a record of 5–11 and placed third in the
AFC North, however, the team was eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14. This season marked the second season under the leadership of team president
Mike Holmgren and general manager
Tom Heckert, as well as the first season under head coach
Pat Shurmur. The Browns played all of their home games at
Cleveland Browns Stadium in
Cleveland, Ohio.
Off-season
Personnel changes
On January 3, 2011, one day after the 2010 season, the Browns fired head coach
Eric Mangini. In two seasons with the Browns, Mangini had a record of 10–22 and a disappointing 2–10 record against division opponents.[1]
On January 13, the team hired former
St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator
Pat Shurmur to replace Mangini as head coach. Shurmur served as the Rams' offensive coordinator from 2009–2010, and was an offensive assistant with the
Philadelphia Eagles from 1999–2008. This is his first opportunity as an NFL head coach.[2]
On January 21, Shurmur made his first addition to the coaching staff, by hiring
Dick Jauron as defensive coordinator. Jauron, who most recently served as the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary coach, has served as defensive coordinator for the
Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995–98, head coach of the
Chicago Bears from 1999–2003, and head coach of the
Buffalo Bills from 2006–09.[3] Jauron replaces
Rob Ryan, who became the defensive coordinator of the
Dallas Cowboys.
On January 25, the Browns hired Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator. Tabor most recently served as the Chicago Bears' assistant special teams coach from 2008–2010.[4] Tabor replaces
Brad Seely, who became the special teams coordinator of the
San Francisco 49ers.
The rest of the Browns' position coaches were retained from Mangini's staff. The Browns have not hired an offensive coordinator, as Shurmur intends to call the offensive plays for the team.[6]
The Browns did not have a 3rd[32] or 6th round selection.[34] The Browns traded their original 7th round selection[35] but later received a new 7th round selection as a compensatory pick.
On June 16, it was announced that the Browns would be wearing white jerseys for all home games. The Browns had previously worn white at home during the 1950s–1980s and again in the early 2000s.[42]
Because the home team for all Browns' away games chose to wear their colored jersey, the Browns wore the same uniform for all 16 games for the first time in franchise history (although the Browns wore their brown jerseys for three preseason games).
After the third preseason game, all NFL teams had to reduce their rosters to 80 players. On August 28, The Browns released eight players, the majority of them being undrafted free agents.[39][43]
After the final preseason game, all teams had to reduce their rosters to 53 players. The Browns released 25 players and placed two players – RB
Brandon Jackson and G
Eric Steinbach – on injured reserve. Notable players released include QB
Jarrett Brown and DB
Coye Francies.[38]
The Browns began the season with a division game against the
Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals struck first, with two
Mike Nugent field goals and a
Jermaine Gresham touchdown reception. Down 13–0, the Browns struck back, with
Colt McCoy completing two touchdown passes to give Cleveland the lead at halftime.
Phil Dawson gave the Browns an insurance field goal, but late in the fourth, Bengals backup QB
Bruce Gradkowski caught the Browns defense slow out of the huddle and hit
A. J. Green for a 41-yard touchdown that proved to be the game winner. With the 27–17 loss, the Browns started the season 0–1.
Week 2: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 2: Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
The Browns took on the
Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, with both teams looking to rebound from losses. The Colts moved the ball well early, but had to settle for two
Adam Vinatieri field goals to take a 6–0 lead. The Browns answered with an
Evan Moore touchdown reception from
Colt McCoy. The Colts briefly regained the lead on another Vinatieri field goal, but the Browns responded with a
Peyton Hillis touchdown run to take a 14–9 lead into halftime. The Colts added another field goal in the third, but the Browns scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth to put the game away and defeat the Colts 27–19. With the win, the Browns improved to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 3: Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
The Browns faced the
Miami Dolphins without their leading rusher
Peyton Hillis in a Week 3 matchup. The Dolphins took an early lead, converting a
Colt McCoy interception into a 7–0 lead on a touchdown pass from
Chad Henne. The Browns tied the game on a touchdown pass from McCoy to
Joshua Cribbs. The Dolphins took the lead again on a
Dan Carpenter field goal, and took a 10–7 lead into halftime. The Browns again tied the game in the third with
Phil Dawson's field goal. The Dolphins added two more field goals, and had the Browns down six points in the final minutes. McCoy led the Browns down the field, and hit
Mohamed Massaquoi on a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Browns a last-minute, 17–16 victory. With the win, the Browns improved to 2–1 and it also became the first season since 2007 to where the team was actually at least a game above .500.
Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 4: Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
In reaction to this game, Cleveland comedian
Mike Polk filmed a video at Cleveland Browns Stadium in which he berated the Browns and dubbed the stadium a "factory of sadness", a nickname that has caught on for both the stadium and the Browns themselves.
Week 10: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week Ten: St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Rams
0
10
0
3
13
Browns
3
6
3
0
12
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: November 13
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), (Cloudy) / Windy Gusting to Gale Force
^
abOn Day 1 of the draft, after trading with Atlanta (see below) the Browns traded their 1st and 3rd round picks (Nos. 27 and 70, used to select
Jon Baldwin and
Justin Houston, respectively) to the
Kansas City Chiefs for their first round selection (No. 21, used to select
Phil Taylor)
^
abOn Day 1 of the draft, the Browns traded their 1st round pick (No. 6, used to select
Julio Jones) to the
Atlanta Falcons for their 1st (No. 27, traded to
Kansas City), 2nd (No. 59, used to select
Greg Little), and 4th (No. 124, used to select
Owen Marecic) round picks, as well as the Falcons' first and fourth round picks in
2012.
^
abOn day 3 of the draft, the Browns traded their two 6th round picks (Nos. 168 and 170, used to select
DeMarcus Love and
Mistral Raymond, respectively) to the
Minnesota Vikings for their fifth round pick (No. 150, used to select
Jason Pinkston).