The 2017 season was the Cleveland Browns' 65th in the National Football League (NFL), their 69th overall, their second under head coach Hue Jackson and their second and final season under general manager Sashi Brown. The Browns failed to improve on their 1–15 record from the previous season, as they instead joined the 2008 Detroit Lions as one of two teams in NFL history to finish a season 0–16 since the season was expanded to 16 games in 1978, and the last due to the NFL expanding its regular season schedule to 17 games in 2021. They extended a losing streak that began in the final game of the previous season. The Browns became the twelfth NFL team to have gone winless playing eight games or more and the fourth since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The Browns and the Lions share another dubious kinship: they are the only remaining pre-merger NFL franchises in the Super Bowl era 1966-present to have never appeared in the Super Bowl. All ten original AFL franchises have played in a Super Bowl.
In going 0–16, the Browns became the first franchise in NFL history to have multiple and consecutive seasons with 15 or more losses. They were eliminated from the AFC North title contention in Week 11, extending an active NFL record drought of 25 consecutive seasons without a division title and would subsequently be eliminated from playoff contention the next week, extending their franchise-record playoff drought to 15 consecutive seasons. With the Buffalo Bills qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 1999, the Browns had the longest postseason drought in the NFL and the second longest in the four major American sports leagues, only behind the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball.
The Browns finished the season with a losing record for the tenth consecutive year, extending a franchise record. With the Los Angeles Rams posting a winning record, the Browns now had the most consecutive losing seasons in the NFL. It was the first season in which they lost every home game since 1999. The Browns also extended their away losing streak to 21 games and their losing streak within the AFC North to 17 games, both dating back to the 2015 season. The Browns finished the 2017 season with combined 1–31 record over the previous two seasons, an NFL record for worst winning percentage over a two-season span. After starting the 2014 season with a promising 6–3 record heading into Week 11, the Browns lost 50 of 55 games between that point and the end of the 2017 season.
On December 7, Brown was relieved of his duties as executive vice president. John Dorsey, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, was hired as general manager the same day. To further add to these failures, offensive tackle Joe Thomas missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career, as he tore his left triceps on October 22, ending his season. Before his injury, Thomas had not missed a single snap since joining the league in 2007, a total of 10,363 plays. He then retired on March 14, 2018, following the season.
The season saw the Browns play in London for the first time in franchise history, in a 33–16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on October 29.
Offseason
Coaching changes On January 7, the Browns fired defensive coordinator Ray Horton. A day later, they hired Gregg Williams as his replacement. Williams had previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
On January 9, associate head coach Pep Hamilton left the Browns to become assistant head coach at the University of Michigan. Hamilton was also the Browns' quarterbacks coach.
On January 10, the Browns fired five assistant coaches: offensive line coach Hal Hunter, inside linebackers coach Johnny Holland, outside linebackers coach Ryan Slowik, defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi, and assistant defensive backs coach Cannon Matthews.
On January 13, the Browns hired DeWayne Walker as defensive backs coach. A day later, they hired Blake Williams as linebackers coach, Jerod Kruse as assistant defensive backs coach, and Bob Wylie as offensive line coach.
On January 17, the Browns fired defensive line coach Robert Nunn and hired Clyde Simmons as his replacement.
On February 8, the Browns hired former Buffalo Bills assistant David Lee as their quarterbacks coach.
Roster changes
Free agents
The following players, who played for the Browns in 2016, were eligible for free agency in 2017.
Position Player Tag 2017 team Signed WR Mario Alford Chicago Bears September 12 RB George Atkinson III Oakland Raiders July 29 CB Marcus Burley Cleveland Browns March 20 LB Jamie Collins Cleveland Browns January 23 P Britton Colquitt Cleveland Browns February 28 RB Isaiah Crowell Cleveland Browns February 28 DE Jamie Meder Cleveland Browns March 28 RB Rajion Neal Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) October 18 DE Stephen Paea Dallas Cowboys March 10 OT Austin Pasztor Atlanta Falcons August 18 FS Jordan Poyer Buffalo Bills March 9 WR Terrelle Pryor Washington Redskins March 10 RB Glenn Winston DT Gabe Wright Philadelphia Eagles June 5 DE Dylan Wynn
Releases Position Player Released 2017 team Signed OL Alvin Bailey April 20 TE Gary Barnidge April 28 OT Josh Boutte May 15 S Trae Elston April 20 Buffalo Bills April 21 QB Robert Griffin III March 10 CBJoe HadenAugust 30Pittsburgh SteelersAugust 30 CB Tracy Howard April 20 Jacksonville Jaguars WR Andrew Hawkins February 27 New England Patriots K Brett Maher May 2 QB Josh McCown February 7 New York Jets March 20 CB Tramon Williams February 7
Signings
Position Player 2016 Team Signed WR Kenny Britt Los Angeles Rams March 9 K Brett Maher Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) March 20 C Marcus Martin * San Francisco 49ers March 9 OT Matt McCants Chicago Bears March 27 CB Jason McCourty Tennessee Titans May 16 FS Tyvis Powell * Seattle Seahawks February 6 C J. C. Tretter Green Bay Packers March 9 WR James Wright * Cincinnati Bengals March 14 G Kevin Zeitler Cincinnati Bengals March 9 * Player was claimed off waivers
Trades
Date Trade partner(s) Player(s)/Pick(s) acquired Player(s)/Pick(s) traded Notes March 9 Houston Texans QB Brock Osweiler 2017 6th round selection (No. 188) 2018 2nd round selection 2017 NFL Draft 4th round selection (No. 142)
2017 draft class
Undrafted free agents 2017 Cleveland Browns UDFA Player Position College B. J. Bello LB Illinois State Donte Carey S Grand Valley State Ladell Fleming DE Northern Illinois J. D. Harmon CB Kentucky Alvin Hill CB Maryland Jamal Marcus DE Akron Taylor McNamara TE USC Najee Murray CB Kent State Kai Nacua S BYU Kenneth Olugbode LB Colorado Karter Schult DE Northern Iowa Channing Stribling CB Michigan
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 New Orleans Saints W 20–14 1–0 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 2 New York Giants W 10–6 2–0 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–9 3–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 at Chicago Bears W 25–0 4–0 Soldier Field Recap
Regular season
Schedule The Browns began the season looking to improve on their 1–15 record from 2016. However, they instead became the second team to finish 0–16, after the 2008 Detroit Lions. The NFL expanded its schedule to 17 games in 2021, ensuring the 2017 Browns would be the final team to finish 0–16, and are still the most recent team to finish a full season winless. In the process, they extended a losing streak that began in Week 17 of last season (a later winless streak that continued until Week 3 of 2018). Many low points of the season include becoming the first team to finish consecutive seasons with 15 or more losses and start two or more consecutive seasons with 14 losses and a sputtering offense that only scored 20 or more points in only four of their 16 games. On December 7, 2017, general manager Sashi Brown was relieved of his duties, and was replaced by former Chiefs general manager John Dorsey. They were eliminated from AFC North contention with a Week 11 loss thus extending their streak without a division title to 25 seasons and were eliminated from playoff contention after a Week 12 loss, extending the postseason drought to 15 seasons. A Buffalo Bills victory over the Miami Dolphins coupled with a Ravens loss to the Bengals sent the Bills to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. As a result, the Browns would own the longest playoff drought in the NFL at the end of the season, with 2002 being their last playoff berth.
The Browns finished the season with a losing record for the 10th straight season, a franchise record. In addition to going winless at home since the first time since 1999, they extended their losing streak on the road to 21 games and their losing streak within their division to 17 games, both streaks that started in the 2015 season. A week 13 loss dropped the Browns to 1–27 in 28 games under Hue Jackson up to that point, over taking the 1976-77 Buccaneers for the worst 28-game start (2–26) in NFL history for a coaching regime, and the team would finish 1–31 in two seasons under Jackson, the worst 32 game stretch in NFL history. Since beginning the 2014 season with a 6–3 record prior to Week 11 of that season, the Browns lost 50 of 55 games between then and the end of 2017. Additionally, the Browns went on to lose 56 of their 64 games between Week 11 of 2014 (encompassing all of 2015, 2016 and 2017) and Week 9 of 2018 before going 5–2 to finish the 2018 season. This is at the time would be one of the worst 64-game stretches of any team in NFL history. To add insult to injury, offensive lineman Joe Thomas tore his triceps in a Week 7 loss to the Tennessee Titans, thus rending him out for the rest of the season. Prior to that, he had not missed a single offensive snap since joining the Browns in 2007. That Week 7 game turned out to be his last, as he would retire from the NFL on March 14, 2018. Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 10 Pittsburgh Steelers L 18–21 0–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 2 September 17 at Baltimore Ravens L 10–24 0–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 3 September 24 at Indianapolis Colts L 28–31 0–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 4 October 1 Cincinnati Bengals L 7–31 0–4 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 5 October 8 New York Jets L 14–17 0–5 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 6 October 15 at Houston Texans L 17–33 0–6 NRG Stadium Recap 7 October 22 Tennessee Titans L 9–12 0–7 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 8 October 29 Minnesota Vikings L 16–33 0–8 Twickenham Stadium Recap 9 Bye 10 November 12 at Detroit Lions L 24–38 0–9 Ford Field Recap 11 November 19 Jacksonville Jaguars L 7–19 0–10 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 12 November 26 at Cincinnati Bengals L 16–30 0–11 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 13 December 3 at Los Angeles Chargers L 10–19 0–12 StubHub Center Recap 14 December 10 Green Bay Packers L 21–27 0–13 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 15 December 17 Baltimore Ravens L 10–27 0–14 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 16 December 24 at Chicago Bears L 3–20 0–15 Soldier Field Recap 17 December 31 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 24–28 0–16 Heinz Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns dropped their 13th consecutive season-opening game with a 21–18 loss to the Steelers.
The scoring began early in the first quarter when Pittsburgh's Tyler Matakevich blocked a Britton Colquitt punt, knocking the ball into the end zone where it was recovered by Anthony Chickillo for a touchdown. The Browns were able to tie the score by the end of the first quarter, however, as rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer orchestrated a 12-play drive that ended when he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
The game stayed at 7–7 through most of the second quarter, until the Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected with tight end Jesse James on a 4-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the first half. The 7–play, 91-yard scoring drive was highlighted by a 50-yard reception by Antonio Brown on a tipped ball.