Surf Wiki
Save to docs
sports

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

1976 Cleveland Browns season

NFL team season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamCleveland Browns
year1976
coachForrest Gregg
ownerArt Modell
stadiumCleveland Municipal Stadium
record9–5
division_place3rd AFC Central
playoffsDid not qualify
pro bowlersRB Greg Pruitt
DT Jerry Sherk
shortnavlinkBrowns seasons

DT Jerry Sherk The 1976 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 31st as a professional sports franchise and their 27th season as a member of the National Football League. The Browns were coached by second-year coach Forrest Gregg, and ended their season with a record of 9–5, being third in their division. The team's top draft choice was running back Mike Pruitt.

Brian Sipe firmly took control at quarterback. Sipe had been inserted into the lineup after a Mike Phipps injury in the season-opening win against the New York Jets on September 12. After a 1–3 start brought visions of another disastrous year, the Browns jolted the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers with an 18–16 victory on October 10. Third-string quarterback Dave Mays helped lead the team to that victory, while defensive end Joe "Turkey" Jones' pile-driving sack of quarterback Terry Bradshaw fueled the heated rivalry between the two teams. That win was the first of eight in the next nine weeks, helping put the Browns in contention for the AFC playoffs. A loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular-season finale cost them a share of the division title, but running back Greg Pruitt continued his outstanding play by rushing for exactly 1,000 yards, his second-straight 1,000-yard season.

Offseason

1976 expansion draft

Main article: 1976 NFL expansion draft

Cleveland Browns 46thru95border=2}}"RoundCleveland Browns 46thru95border=2}}"OverallCleveland Browns 46thru95border=2}}"NameCleveland Browns 46thru95border=2}}"PositionCleveland Browns 46thru95border=2}}"Expansion team
00Carl BarisichDefensive tackleSeattle Seahawks
00John DemarieGuardSeattle Seahawks
00J. K. McKayWide receiverTampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL draft

The following were selected in the 1976 NFL draft.

RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
17Mike PruittRunning backPurdue
365Dave LoganWide receiverColorado
497Gene SwickQuarterbackToledo
499Mike St. ClairDefensive endGrambling
5130Henry SheppardGuardSMU
7189Steve CassidyDefensive tackleLSU
9242James ReedRunning backMississippi
9261Craig NagelQuarterbackPurdue
10271Doug KleberOffensive tackleIllinois
11297Doug CelekDefensive endKent State
13354Brian MurrayOffensive tackleArizona
14381Joe SmalzerTight endIllinois
15408Luther PhilyawDefensive backLoyola Marymount
16438Chris LorenzenDefensive tackleArizona State
17464Tom FlemingWide receiverDartmouth

Staff / Coaches

  • Owner and president – Art Modell

  • Executive vice president/general manager – Harold Sauerbrai

  • Head coaches – Forrest Gregg

  • Running backs – George Sefcik

  • Wide receivers – Raymond Berry

  • Offensive line – Rod Humenuik

  • Defensive Coordinator - Dick Modzelewski

  • Linebackers – Walt Corey

  • Secondary / defensive backs – Billy Kinard

  • Special teams – Al Tabor

  • Film Coordinator - Ed Ulinski

  • Athletic Trainer - Leo Murphy

Roster

Cleveland Brownsborder=2}};"1976 Cleveland Browns roster
Quarterbacks

Exhibition schedule

Cleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"WeekCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"DateCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"OpponentCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"ResultCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"RecordCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"VenueCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"AttendanceCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"Recap123456
vs. Baltimore ColtsL 0–210–1Memorial Stadium (Lincoln)Recap
vs. Atlanta FalconsW 31–71–1Lewis FieldRecap
Minnesota VikingsW 31–72–1Cleveland StadiumRecap
at Philadelphia EaglesW 21–173–1Veterans StadiumRecap
New England PatriotsW 30–274–1Cleveland StadiumRecap
at Buffalo BillsL 10–284–2Rich StadiumRecap

Regular season schedule

Cleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"WeekCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"DateCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"OpponentCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"ResultCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"RecordCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"VenueCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"AttendanceCleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"Recap1234567891011121314
September 12New York JetsW 38–171–0Cleveland Stadium67,496 Recap
September 19at Pittsburgh SteelersL 14–311–1Three Rivers Stadium49,169 Recap
September 26at Denver BroncosL 13–441–2Mile High Stadium62,775 Recap
October 3Cincinnati Bengals L 24–451–3Cleveland Stadium75,817 Recap
October 10Pittsburgh SteelersW 18–162–3Cleveland Stadium76,411 Recap
October 17at Atlanta FalconsW 20–173–3Atlanta Stadium33,364 Recap
October 24San Diego ChargersW 21–174–3Cleveland Stadium60,018 Recap
October 31at Cincinnati Bengals L 6–214–4Riverfront Stadium54,776 Recap
November 7at Houston OilersW 21–75–4Astrodome39,828 Recap
November 14Philadelphia EaglesW 24–36–4Cleveland Stadium62,120 Recap
November 21at Tampa Bay BuccaneersW 24–77–4Tampa Stadium36,930 Recap
November 28Miami DolphinsW 17–138–4Cleveland Stadium74,715 Recap
December 5Houston OilersW 13–109–4Cleveland Stadium56,025 Recap
December 12at Kansas City ChiefsL 14–399–5Arrowhead Stadium34,340 Recap
Cleveland Brownsyear=1976border=2}}"Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Game summaries

Week 5 vs Steelers

First quarter

  • CLE – Don Cockroft 43-yard field goal. ''Browns 3–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • PIT – Franco Harris 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). ''Steelers 7–3. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • CLE – Don Cockroft 28-yard field goal. ''Steelers 7–6. '''Drive:'''''
  • PIT – Roy Gerela 30-yard field goal. ''Steelers 10–6. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • CLE – Cleo Miller 1-yard run (kick failed). ''Browns 12–10. '''Drive:'''''
  • CLE – Don Cockroft 50-yard field goal. ''Browns 15–10. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • CLE – Don Cockroft 40-yard field goal. ''Browns 18–10. '''Drive:'''''
  • PIT – Mike Kruczek 22-yard run (kick blocked). ''Browns 18–16. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
  • PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 10/18, 75 yards, INT
  • CLE – Brian Sipe – 4/14, 80 yards ;Top rushers
  • PIT – Franco Harris – 13 rushes, 39 yards, TD
  • CLE – Greg Pruitt – 22 rushes, 76 yards ;Top receivers
  • PIT – Lynn Swann – 3 receptions, 74 yards
  • CLE – Reggie Rucker – 3 receptions, 77 yards

Turkey Jones knocked out Terry Bradshaw in this contest.

Week 6: at [[1976 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta]]

First quarter

  • CLE – Pruitt 1 yard rush (Cockroft kick) Browns 7, Falcons 0
  • CLE – Miller 1 yard rush (Cockroft kick) Browns 14, Falcons 0 Second quarter
  • ATL – Bean 23 yard rush (Mike-Mayer kick) Browns 14, Falcons 7
  • ATL – Gilliam 18 yard pass from McQuilken (Mike-Mayer kick) Browns 14, Falcons 14 Third quarter
  • ATL – Mike-Mayer 33 yard field goal Falcons 17, Browns 14
  • CLE – Pruitt 2 yard rush (run failed) Browns 20, Falcons 17 Fourth quarter
  • No scoring plays Top passers
  • CLE – Brian Sipe 12/18, 134 yds, 2 INT
  • ATL – Kim McQuilken 15/28, 180 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Top rushers
  • CLE – Greg Pruitt 26 carr, 191 yds, 2 TD
  • ATL – Bubba Bean 14 carr, 54 yds, 1 TD Top receivers
  • CLE – Paul Warfield 4 rec, 69 yds
  • ATL – Alfred Jenkins 6 rec, 74 yds Turnovers
  • CLE – 3
  • ATL – 1

References

  1. "1976 NFL Draft Listing – Pro-Football-Reference.com".
  2. "1976 Cleveland Browns Starters, Roster, & Players".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

1976-nfl-season-by-team cleveland-browns-seasons 1976-in-sports-in-ohio
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 1976 Cleveland Browns season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report