While the recent history for the Cleveland Browns has been something to forget, there are a few players, seasons and experiences that are worthy of remembering. Further in the past, the Browns franchise was full of many such things.
Cleveland hopes that the near future is more like the distant past than the recent one but still has a chance to honor both. The Browns announced two more members of their 2021 Browns Legends class with D’Qwell Jackson and Bill Nelsen:
D’Qwell Jackson and Bill Nelsen have been named to our 2021 class of Browns Legends
📰 » https://t.co/3Hs9ZHCqWF pic.twitter.com/in41iFdTGv
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 28, 2021
Jackson played through some very tough times in Cleveland’s franchise. He racked up tackle after tackle during his seven years with the Browns, totaling 826 of them. Jackson also had eight interceptions, five forced fumbles, seven fumble returns and 11.5 sacks with the Browns.
Nelsen comes from the team’s distant past, playing from 1968 through 1972. After five years with Pittsburgh, Nelsen played 58 games for the Browns with a 34 – 16 – 1 record for the team during his 51 starts. In an era where throwing the ball was far less than now, Nelsen threw for over 2,000 yards in four of his five years with the team including 2,743 in 1969.
The team’s website gives the simple criteria for the Browns Legends group:
The three requirements to be eligible for consideration for induction are:
- Candidates will have played for at least five seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
- Candidates must have been a major contributor at their respective positions.
- Candidates will have been retired from playing professional football for at least five years.
Started in 2001, the Browns Legends include the big names of the team’s history and continues to grow by two each year including Josh Cribbs and Webster Slaughter last year.