1981 Cleveland Browns season
Encyclopedia
The 1981
Cleveland Browns
season was the team's 32nd season with the National Football League
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1981 NFL season
The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.-Major rule changes:...
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
season was the team's 32nd season with the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
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NFL Draft
The following were selected in the 1981 NFL Draft1981 NFL Draft
The 1981 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1981...
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| Round | Overall | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 22 | Hanford Dixon Hanford Dixon Hanford Dixon is a former professional American football cornerback who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. Dixon made the Pro Bowl three times, in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He was drafted by the Browns out of The University of Southern Mississippi with the 22nd pick in the... |
Defensive Back | Southern Miss Southern Miss Golden Eagles football The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football program represents the University of Southern Mississippi in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The Eagles are members of Conference USA and player their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi... |
| 4 | 92 | Mike Robinson | Defensive End | Arizona Arizona Wildcats football The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:... |
| 5 | 134 | Steve Cox | Punter | Arkansas Arkansas Razorbacks football The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
| 6 | 160 | Ron Simmons Ron Simmons Ronald "Ron" Simmons is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He is recognised as being the first Black world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling and the first of only two African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship,... |
Defensive Tackle | Florida State Florida State Seminoles football The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
| 7 | 187 | Eddie Johnson Eddie Johnson (linebacker) Eddie Johnson is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns. He wore number 51 during his time with the Browns and his nickname was "The Assassin". He was known for his fierce tackling style. He died in 2003 after a... |
Linebacker | Louisville Louisville Cardinals football The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship... |
| 9 | 244 | Randy Schleusener | Guard | Nebraska Nebraska Cornhuskers football The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A... |
| 10 | 271 | Dean Prater | Defensive End | Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Cowboys football The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as... |
| 11 | 298 | Larry Friday | Defensive Back | Mississippi State Mississippi State Bulldogs football The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124... |
| 12 | 325 | Kevin McGill | Offensive Tackle | Oregon Oregon Ducks football The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the... |
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 7, 1981 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 44–14 | |
| 2 | September 13, 1981 | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 9–3 | |
| 3 | September 20, 1981 | at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 20–17 | |
| 4 | September 27, 1981 | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 28–17 | |
| 5 | October 4, 1981 | at Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
L 27–16 | |
| 6 | October 11, 1981 | at Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
L 13–7 | |
| 7 | October 18, 1981 | New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 20–17 | |
| 8 | October 25, 1981 | Baltimore Colts | W 42–28 | |
| 9 | November 1, 1981 | at Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 22–13 | |
| 10 | November 8, 1981 | at Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 23–20 (OT) | |
| 11 | November 15, 1981 | at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
W 15–12 | |
| 12 | November 22, 1981 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
L 32–10 | |
| 13 | November 29, 1981 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
L 41–21 | |
| 14 | December 3, 1981 | at Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 17–13 | |
| 15 | December 12, 1981 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 14–13 | |
| 16 | December 20, 1981 | at Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 42–21 | |
Standings
| AFC East AFC East The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets... |
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| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals 1981 Cincinnati Bengals season The 1981 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 14th year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League.The Bengals unveiled new uniforms with tiger-striped helmets, jerseys and pants. They had at least a share of the AFC Central lead the entire season and, on Dec... |
12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 421 | 304 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers 1981 Pittsburgh Steelers season - Schedule :- Schedule :- Week 1 : vs. Kansas City Chiefs :at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT* Game weather:* Game attendance: 53,305* Referee: Jim Tunney... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 356 | 297 |
| Houston Oilers 1981 Houston Oilers season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Roster:-References:* *... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 281 | 355 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 276 | 375 |
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Tom DeLeone Thomas Denning DeLeone is a former American football center who played thirteen seasons in the National Football League, with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. He grew up in Kent, Ohio and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1968, where he was on the football, basketball,... C Cody Risien Cody Lewis Risien is a former American football offensive tackle who played eleven seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns... T Joe DeLamielleure Joseph Michael DeLamielleure is a former American football offensive lineman who was an All-American at Michigan State. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He won All-Rookie Honors, after finding out a physical condition with his irregular heartbeat was... G Henry Sheppard Henry Sheppard is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 1976 NFL Draft. He played college football at SMU.... G Doug Dieken Douglas Heye Dieken is a former American football offensive tackle who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns.... T Gerry Sullivan Gerry Sullivan is a former professional American football player who was an offensive lineman for eight seasons for the Cleveland Browns.... C/T Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Don Goode Donald Ray Goode , was an NFL linebacker from 1974-1981. He went to Booker T. Washington High School. He played college football at the University of Kansas and was selected in the 1st round by the San Diego Chargers in the 1974 NFL Draft... OLB Eddie Johnson (linebacker) Eddie Johnson is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns. He wore number 51 during his time with the Browns and his nickname was "The Assassin". He was known for his fierce tackling style. He died in 2003 after a... ILB Dick Ambrose Dick Ambrose is a former American football linebacker who played nine seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns, from 1975 to 1983... ILB Bruce Huther Bruce Albert Huther is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the Cleveland Browns, and the Chicago Bears. He played college football at the University of New Hampshire.Huther played high school football at Manchester Regional High School in... ILB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
Bill Cowher William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL... ILB (IR)  Rookies in italics |
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