The 2015 season was the Cleveland Browns' 63rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 67th overall, and their second and final season under the head coach/general manager tandem of Mike Pettine and Ray Farmer. Both Pettine and Farmer were fired on January 3, 2016, after the team failed to improve on their 7–9 record from the previous season, going 3–13, tied with the Tennessee Titans for the worst record in the league. The Browns introduced new uniforms prior to the start of the season, updating the orange color to a darker hue, among other changes.
Offseason Personnel changes On January 8, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan left the Browns due to disagreements about the quarterback Johnny Manziel's readiness to start. Quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains was fired the same day. Notably, Loggains was instrumental in the team's drafting of Manziel in the 2014 NFL draft. On January 15, wide receivers coach Mike McDaniel left the Browns by mutual agreement.
On January 21, John DeFilippo was hired as the Browns’ new offensive coordinator. DeFilippo, who has been the Oakland Raiders’ quarterbacks coach for the past three seasons, replaces Kyle Shanahan, who resigned earlier in the month. After his first stint as the Raiders’ quarterbacks coach (2007–08), DeFilippo worked with HC Mike Pettine for one successful season with the New York Jets. Under DeFilippo's guidance, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez showed enough poise to lead New York to the AFC Championship. Pettine was the Jets’ defensive coordinator that season.
On January 27, Joker Phillips was hired as wide receivers coach.
On January 31, Kevin O'Connell accepted the position of quarterbacks coach.
Roster changes Free agents Pos Player Tag 2015 Team Signed WR Miles Austin UFA Philadelphia Eagles March 31 SS Johnson Bademosi RFA Cleveland Browns April 23 TE Jordan Cameron UFA Miami Dolphins March 12 RB Shaun Draughn UFA Cleveland Browns March 6 QB Brian Hoyer UFA Houston Texans March 11 NT Sione Fua UFA TBA FS Tashaun Gipson RFA Cleveland Browns NT Ishmaa'ily Kitchen RFA TBA P Spencer Lanning ERFA Tampy Bay Buccaneers March 6 SS Jim Leonhard UFA Retired WR Marlon Moore UFA Cleveland Browns March 11 ILB Craig Robertson ERFA Cleveland Browns April 23 NT Ahtyba Rubin UFA Seattle Seahawks March 19 OT Ryan Seymour ERFA Cleveland Browns March 9 OLB Jabaal Sheard UFA New England Patriots March 11 CB Buster Skrine UFA New York Jets March 10 OLB Scott Solomon UFA Cleveland Browns Unknown QB Tyler Thigpen UFA TBA
Players shaded in green re-signed with the Browns UFA: Unrestricted free agent RFA: Restricted free agent ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent FT: Player was designated with the franchise tag TT: Player was designated with the transition tag
Releases Pos Player Released 2015 Team Signed OL Paul McQuistan February 13
Signings
Pos Player 2014 Team Signed WR Brian Hartline Miami Dolphins March 10 WR Dwayne Bowe Kansas City Chiefs March 20 TE Rob Housler Arizona Cardinals April 9 QB Thad Lewis Houston Texans March 12 QB Josh McCown Tampa Bay Buccaneers March 2 CB Micah Pellerin Dallas Cowboys January 20 CB Varmah Sonie Tampa Bay Buccaneers February 18 DE Randy Starks Miami Dolphins March 16 CB Tramon Williams Green Bay Packers March 16
2015 draft class
2015 Cleveland Browns draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 12 Danny Shelton Defensive tackle Washington 19 Cameron Erving Guard Florida State 2 51 Nate Orchard Defensive end Utah 3 77 Duke Johnson Running back Miami (Florida) 96 Xavier Cooper Defensive tackle Washington State 4 115 Ibraheim Campbell Safety Northwestern 123 Vince Mayle Wide receiver Washington State 6 189 Charles Gaines Cornerback Louisville 195 Malcolm Johnson Fullback Mississippi State 198 Randall Telfer Tight end USC 7 219 Hayes Pullard Inside linebacker USC 241 Ifo Ekpre-Olomu Cornerback Oregon Notes The Browns acquired additional selections in the first (No. 19) and fourth (No. 111) rounds as part of a trade that sent the team's 2014 first-round selection to the Buffalo Bills. The Browns acquired an additional sixth-round (No. 202) selection in a trade that sent the team's 2014 seventh-round selection to the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns have traded picks in Round 2 (No. 51 for No. 43) with the Houston Texans for additional picks and upgrades in the later rounds in this years' draft (see above for updated selections). They also made swaps for higher picks with the Arizona Cardinals in rounds 4–7.
Gordon suspension On January 25, it was announced that wide receiver Josh Gordon was facing a year-long suspension following a fifth failed drug test, this time for alcohol. This follows a ten-game suspension in 2014 for testing positive for marijuana. On February 3, the league imposed the suspension without pay for at least one year, possibly indefinitely. His earliest return would be training camp for the 2016 season.
Manziel enters rehab On February 3, 2015, quarterback Johnny Manziel voluntarily entered a rehab facility for dependence on alcohol. He exited the facility on April 12, shortly prior to the beginning of offseason workouts.
GM Farmer suspension In an incident widely dubbed as Textgate, it was announced on February 4 that the Browns faced sanctions amid allegations of text messages being sent from general manager Ray Farmer to coaches and coordinators during games during the 2014 season, a violation of NFL rules. On March 30, 2015 it was announced Ray Farmer was suspended for the first four games of the season without pay and the Browns were fined $250,000 for the incident. No loss of current or future draft picks were imposed.
Logo and uniform changes The Browns introduced new logos on February 24. The helmet remains the primary logo, changing the team's orange color to a darker hue, and changing the facemask from gray to brown. The team also premiered a secondary logo, which is a simplistic helmet, and a new logo for the Dawg Pound.
On April 14, the Browns premiered nine new uniforms. There are three jersey colors and three pants colors: orange, brown, and white, allowing for nine possible uniform combinations. The uniforms have "Cleveland" above the numbers on the front, "Browns" down the leg, and "Dawg Pound" inside the collar. The uniforms are the first in the NFL to utilize contrast stitching and chainmail/raised numbers. The team name down the leg are also NFL firsts.
Personnel Staff / Coaches
Final roster
Preseason Schedule This was the first preseason in 13 years in which the Great Lakes Classic was not played against the rival Detroit Lions. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 13 Washington Redskins L 17–20 0–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 2 August 20 Buffalo Bills L 10–11 0–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 August 29 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–7 1–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 September 3 at Chicago Bears L 0–24 1–3 Soldier Field Recap
Moeller suspended On September 7, the Browns suspended offensive line coach Andy Moeller indefinitely in response to an alleged assault Moeller was being investigated for. He and the Browns mutually parted ways before the team's game on September 27.
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 at New York Jets L 10–31 0–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 September 20 Tennessee Titans W 28–14 1–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 September 27 Oakland Raiders L 20–27 1–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at San Diego Chargers L 27–30 1–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 5 October 11 at Baltimore Ravens W 33–30 2–3 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 6 October 18 Denver Broncos L 23–26 2–4 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 7 October 25 at St. Louis Rams L 6–24 2–5 Edward Jones Dome Recap 8 November 1 Arizona Cardinals L 20–34 2–6 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 9 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–31 2–7 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 10 November 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 9–30 2–8 Heinz Field Recap 11 Bye 12 Baltimore Ravens L 27–33 2–9 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 13 December 6 Cincinnati Bengals L 3–37 2–10 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 14 December 13 San Francisco 49ers W 24–10 3–10 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 15 December 20 at Seattle Seahawks L 13–30 3–11 CenturyLink Field Recap 16 December 27 at Kansas City Chiefs L 13–17 3–12 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 17 January 3 Pittsburgh Steelers L 12–28 3–13 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at New York Jets
The Jets routed the Browns 31–10. Late in the first quarter, the Browns' starting quarterback, Josh McCown, fumbled the football in the Jets' endzone and suffered a concussion. He was ruled out and replaced by Johnny Manziel for the remainder of the contest. The Browns led 10–7 late in the first half, but the Jets scored a touchdown late in the second quarter to lead 14–10 at halftime. In the second half, the Browns failed to score while the Jets scored 17 unanswered points to turn it into a blowout. The Browns committed five turnovers in the game, four of them being lost fumbles. They also committed 12 penalties, losing 109 yards.
With the loss, the Browns opened the season at 0–1. They lost their 11th straight season opener, extending their NFL record for the most consecutive season opening losses by a franchise in NFL history.
Week 2: vs. Tennessee Titans
In the team's home opener, former Heisman Trophy winners Johnny Manziel and Marcus Mariota started against each other, and the two combined for over 400 yards with each having a pair of TD's and no INT's. After the Browns led 21–0 at halftime, Anthony Fasano and Dexter McCluster factored in each of the scoring drives for Tennessee, as defensive containment limited Mariota for most of the game. The Titans cut the deficit to 21–14 late in the 4th quarter. On their next drive, the Browns reached midfield and faced 3rd and 2. On a broken play, Manziel found Benjamin and threw a touchdown to put the Browns up 28–14. The Titans reached the red zone on their next drive, but Mariota fumbled and lost the ball, allowing the Browns to run out the clock. After committing 5 turnovers in their season opener, the Browns had 0 turnovers while forcing three Titans turnovers. For Cleveland, Armonty Bryant led the Browns with 2.5 sacks (of the 7 total) as they pressured the Titans to turn over the ball three times. Travis Benjamin, who had 269 all-purpose yards, including a 78-yard punt return TD, was selected AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
With the win, the Browns ended their six-game losing streak and improved to 1–1 on the season. Benjamin's 3 TD's were all over 50 yards, which made him only the third player in NFL history to have three 50+ yard touchdowns in the same game.
Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders