The2019 season was theCleveland Browns' 67th in theNational Football League (NFL), their 71st overall, their second full season under general managerJohn Dorsey and their only season underhead coachFreddie Kitchens. They finished 6–10 despite entering the season with high expectations, failing to improve on their 7–8–1 record from2018 or end their franchise-record and league-high 16-year playoff drought. They also suffered a 12th consecutive losing season, also a franchise record and the longest such streak in the league. Following the season, the Browns fired Kitchens after one season and Dorsey left his position as well.

On October 29, 2018, after Week 8 of the 2018 season, the Browns fired head coachHue Jackson. Jackson posted a record of 3–36–1 (.088) record during his 21⁄2-season tenure with the Browns. Jackson failed to win any away games during his tenure andlost every game in 2017. Offensive coordinatorTodd Haley was also fired the same day.^[1] Defensive coordinatorGregg Williams finished out the 2018 season with a 5–3 (.625) record as interim head coach.

On January 12, 2019, the Browns promoted interim offensive coordinatorFreddie Kitchens to head coach.^[2]

On January 12, the Browns hired formerMinnesota Vikings special teams coordinatorMike Priefer to the same role.^[3]

On January 14, the Browns hired formerTampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinatorTodd Monken as offensive coordinator and formerArizona Cardinals head coachSteve Wilks as defensive coordinator.^[4]

Trade notes

During the 2019 off-season, the Browns also signed DTBrandin Bryant,^[40] WRJaelen Strong,^[41] and GBryan Witzmann,^[42] but released them prior to the start of the season^[15]

Cleveland traded their first-round pick (17th), a third-round pick previously acquired from New England (95th), guard Kevin Zeitler and safety Jabrill Peppers to New York in exchange for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive end Olivier Vernon.

On September 4, the Browns announced that they would use their brown "color rush" uniforms, which they debuted in 2018, as their primary home uniforms for 2019, wearing them for six home games. These uniforms feature dark brown jerseys with orange numbers and orange stripes, and dark brown pants with the same orange stripes.^[51]

Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text.

The Browns opened the season with a home game against theTennessee Titans with high hopes after their 7–8–1 season in2018. The Browns scored a touchdown on their first drive to take a 6–0 lead, but the Titans controlled the game after that, taking a 12–6 lead into halftime. After a Titans field goal, a Browns' touchdown late in the third quarter made the score 15–13, but that is the closest they would get as quarterbackBaker Mayfield threw three interceptions and the Titans scored four unanswered touchdowns to secure a 43–13 win.

With the loss, the Browns opened the season at 0–1. The Browns failed to win in Week 1 for the 15th consecutive season. They also committed 18 penalties for 182 yards, their most penalties in a game since 1951.^[52]

The Browns traveled to New York for aMonday Night Football matchup against the Jets, marking the Browns' firstMNF appearance since2015. The Browns opened the scoring with a pair ofAustin Seibert field goals—the first of his career—in the first quarter to take a 6–0 lead. After the Browns added aNick Chubb touchdown run, the teams traded field goals late in the second quarter to give the Browns a 16–3 halftime lead. The only score of the second half was an 89-yard touchdown pass fromBaker Mayfield toOdell Beckham Jr. to give the Browns a 23–3 win. The Browns' defense had a solid performance with four sacks (including three byMyles Garrett), one takeaway and two fourth-down stops.^[53]

With the win, the Browns improved to 1–1. PunterJamie Gillan was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week; he made six punts, five of which landed inside the Jets' 20-yard line, averaging 38.5 yards per kick.^[54]

The Browns hosted theLos Angeles Rams in their firstSunday Night Football appearance since2008. The Browns held a 6–3 halftime lead after a highly defensive first half. The only scoring came via field goals from the Browns'Austin Seibert and the Rams'Greg Zuerlein. In the third quarter, the Rams drove down the field and scored a touchdown on aJared Goff pass toCooper Kupp to take a 10–6 lead. The Browns responded on their next drive with aBaker Mayfield pass toDemetrius Harris to retake the lead at 13–10. Early in the fourth quarter, the Rams regained the lead, 17–13, on another Goff touchdown pass to Kupp and extended their lead to 20–13 with a Zuerlein field goal. Late in the game, the Browns had a chance to tie the score with a touchdown. In the final minute, the Browns had the ball first and goal from the Rams' 4-yard line, but Mayfield threw three incomplete passes, followed by an interception on fourth down.

With the loss, the Browns fell to 1–2.

The Browns opened the scoring in the first quarter with aBaker Mayfield touchdown pass toRicky Seals-Jones. However, the Ravens responded with aLamar Jackson touchdown pass toMiles Boykin to tie the game at 7–7. AnAustin Seibert field goal gave the Browns a 10–7 lead at halftime. In the second half,Nick Chubb led the Browns, scoring a career-high three touchdowns and rushing for 128 of his 165 yards on the day, including an 88-yard touchdown run to extend the Browns' lead just two plays after the Ravens had cut the score to 24–18. ADontrell Hilliard touchdown run extended the Browns' lead to 40–18. The Ravens added a garbage-time touchdown to make the final score 40–25.

With the win, the Browns improved to 2–2 and moved into first place in theAFC North for the first time since Week 10 of2014. For his 165 yards and three touchdowns, Chubb was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week^[55] andFedEx Ground Player of the Week^[56]

On October 3, punterJamie Gillan was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. Gillan had 11 punts inside the 20-yard line and helped the Browns limit opponents to just 19 punt return yards for the month.^[57]

The 49ers opened the scoring with a pair ofMatt Breida touchdowns in the first quarter – an 83-yard run and a 5-yard reception fromJimmy Garoppolo. After a Browns field goal, the 49ers continued their dominance, scoring an additional 17 points en route to a 31–3 blowout win. The 49ers defense heldBaker Mayfield to just 100 passing yards and no touchdowns, marking Mayfield's first career start in which he did not throw a touchdown pass, having done so in each of his first 17 starts. The Browns also turned the ball over four times, including two Mayfield interceptions.

With the loss, the Browns fell to 2–3.

The Browns returned home to take on theSeattle Seahawks in Week 6 and opened the scoring with aNick Chubb touchdown run. Seattle responded with a touchdown run byRussell Wilson, giving the Browns a 7–6 lead after a missed extra point by Seattle. The Browns then extended their lead to 20–6, withBaker Mayfield running in from 10 yards before throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass toRicky Seals-Jones. Before halftime, Seattle scored on a pair ofJason Myers field goals and a touchdown pass from Wilson toJaron Brown to cut the Browns' lead to 20–18. In the second half, Seattle took the lead on another Wilson touchdown pass to Brown, but the Browns responded with a Chubb touchdown run and a two-point pass from Mayfield toDemetrius Harris to retake the lead, 28–25. The Seahawks retook the lead with 3:30 left in the game, going up 32–28 thanks to aChris Carson touchdown run, before picking off Mayfield on the Browns' ensuing drive to allow them to run down the clock and claim the win.

With the loss, the Browns went into their bye week at 2–4.

After their bye week, the Browns traveled to New England for a Week 8 contest against the defendingSuper Bowl championNew England Patriots, who entered this game 7–0. The Patriots raced to a 17–0 first quarter lead, aided by twoNick Chubb fumbles and aBaker Mayfield interception on three consecutive offensive snaps for the Browns. Chubb's first fumble was returned byDont'a Hightower for a 26–yard touchdown, while the Patriots' second touchdown came on aTom Brady pass toJulian Edelman. Browns got on the board in the second quarter with a Mayfield touchdown pass toDemetrius Harris, to make the score 17–7 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Browns closed New England's lead to 17–10 with anAustin Seibert 38-yard field goal, but the Patriots responded with another Brady touchdown pass to Edelman on their next drive to extend their lead to 24–10. The teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter for a 27–13 Patriots win.

With the loss, the Browns fell to 2–5.

The Browns visited theDenver Broncos for a Week 9 match-up. The Browns hoped to end a three-game losing streak while Denver quarterbackBrandon Allen was making his first career start in place of an injuredJoe Flacco. Denver opened the scoring with an Allen 21–yard touchdown pass toCourtland Sutton. He added a 75–yard touchdown pass toNoah Fant in the second quarter. For the Browns,Austin Seibert kicked four field goals in the second quarter (three of which occurred with the Browns inside Denver's 15-yard line) and Denver'sBrandon McManus added a field goal to give the Broncos a 17–12 halftime lead. In the second half, the Broncos extended their lead to 24–12 on aPhillip Lindsay touchdown run, while the Browns closed the Broncos' lead back to five points on aBaker Mayfield touchdown pass toJarvis Landry. However, the Browns could not score again, resulting in a 24–19 Broncos' win.

With the loss, the Browns fell to 2–6. This marks the 12th straight season in which the Browns suffered a losing streak of at least four games. Following the game, safetyJermaine Whitehead, out of frustration, made inappropriate and threateningtweets in response to critics. He was subsequently released by the Browns.^[58]

The Browns returned home to take on theBuffalo Bills, hoping to end their 4-game losing streak. The Browns scored a touchdown on the game's first drive on aBaker Mayfield 17-yard touchdown pass toJarvis Landry. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Landry resulted in the PAT attempt being kicked from 15 yards further back, and it was subsequently missed. Early in the second quarter, the Bills scored a touchdown on aJosh Allen 10-yard run to take a 7–6 lead. Browns kickerAustin Seibert nailed a 23-yard field goal, while Bills' kickerStephen Hauschka missed a 35-yard field goal attempt late in the quarter, giving the Browns a 9–7 halftime lead. The Bills tied the game with a safety in the third quarter asTremaine Edmunds sacked Mayfield in the end zone. Seibert added a field goal to give the Browns a 12–9 lead after three-quarters. In the fourth quarter, Allen gave the Bills a 16–12 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run. However, the Browns responded with an 82-yard drive culminating with a Mayfield touchdown pass toRashard Higgins, giving the Browns a 19–16 lead with just under two minutes remaining. The Bills drove down the field, but Hauschka missed a 53-yard potential game-tying field goal with 22 seconds remaining, giving the Browns a 19–16 win.^[59]

With the win, the Browns improved to 3–6.

The Browns stayed home to face thePittsburgh Steelers onThursday Night Football. Browns quarterbackBaker Mayfield scored the first points on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, set up by a 43-yard pass from Mayfield to wide receiverOdell Beckham Jr. The next score came in the second quarter, with a 1-yard touchdown catch byJarvis Landry. The Steelers struck back in the third quarter with a touchdown completion by Steelers running backJaylen Samuels, but Cleveland held off the Steelers for the win. Browns rookie tight endStephen Carlson caught a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for his first career touchdown. The Browns defense forced four interceptions of Steelers quarterbackMason Rudolph in the game.

A skirmish broke out between the two teams in the closing seconds of the game. After passing toTrey Edmunds, Rudolph found himself dragged down by Browns defensive endMyles Garrett. Upset by the late tackle, Rudolph started to attack Garrett by kicking him in the groin and attempting to pull off Garrett's helmet. Garrett then pulled off Rudolph's helmet and used it to hit Rudolph in the head. Steelers centerMaurkice Pouncey and Browns defensive tackleLarry Ogunjobi then joined in on the fight in defense of their respective teammates. Garrett, Ogunjobi, and Pouncey were ejected from the game. Following the game, Garrett was suspended for the remainder of 2019 and required to apply for reinstatement in 2020, while Pouncey and Ogunjobi received suspensions of two games and one game, respectively.^[60][61] Garrett's suspension was the first indefinite suspension in NFL history for a single on-field transgression.^[62]

Landry recorded his 529th reception, breakingDeAndre Hopkins' record of most catches in an NFL player's first six seasons.^[63]

With the win, the Browns improved to 4–6. The win ended an 8-game winless streak to the Steelers that dated back to2014. This also marked the first time in franchise history that the Browns defeated division rivalsBaltimore and Pittsburgh in the same season.

The Browns hosted theMiami Dolphins in their third straight home game. The Browns dominated the first half, building a 28–0 lead in the process. The Browns scored four first half touchdowns on threeBaker Mayfield touchdown passes (two short passes toJarvis Landry and a 35-yard pass toOdell Beckham Jr.) and a 6-yard run byKareem Hunt. The Dolphins got on the board with aJason Sanders field goal to make the score 28–3 at halftime. The Dolphins came back in the third quarter. Aided by a Mayfield interception and a missed field goal byAustin Seibert, the Dolphins scored two touchdowns on aRyan Fitzpatrick 11-yard pass toMike Gesicki and a Fitzpatrick 8-yard run, to close the Browns' lead to 28–17. However, the Browns responded in the fourth quarter with a pair of Seibert field goals and aNick Chubb 5-yard touchdown run to go up 41–17. A late Miami touchdown made the final score 41–24.

With the win, the Browns improved to 5–6. This marked the Browns' 100th win since returning to the NFL in1999.^[64] LinebackerJoe Schobert was named the AFC Defensive Player of the week after recording five tackles, four blocked passes, and two interceptions.^[65]

The Browns traveled to Pittsburgh for round two of their divisionrivalry with theSteelers. In the first quarter, the Browns scored first on anAustin Seibert 31-yard field goal. They extended their lead to 10–0 in the second quarter on aBaker Mayfield 15-yard touchdown pass toKareem Hunt. The Steelers, however tied the game 10–10 before halftime with aChris Boswell 39-yard field goal followed by aDevlin Hodges 30-yard touchdown pass toJames Washington. In the third quarter, the Steelers took a 17–10 lead whenBenny Snell ran for a 1-yard touchdown and added a Boswell 29-yard field goal to make it 20–10. Seibert got the Browns within a touchdown at 20–13 on a 34-yard field goal to make it 20–13. Getting the ball back later on in the quarter, the Browns had an opportunity to score a game-tying touchdown, However, Steelers cornerback and former Brown Joe Haden came up with the game-sealing interception of Mayfield.

With the loss, the Browns fell to 5–7. This marked the Browns' 16th consecutive loss in Pittsburgh. On the same day, theBaltimore Ravens won their game, thus mathematically eliminating the Browns from AFC North title contention. This is the Browns 27th consecutive season without a division title, the longest active streak in the NFL.

The Browns returned home to battle theirin-state rivalCincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati took an early 3–0 lead on aRandy Bullock 34-yard field goal. The Browns got on the board later in the first quarter asDenzel Ward intercepted anAndy Dalton pass and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown to take a 7–3 lead. Bullock added a 44-yard field goal to bring the Bengals to within 7–6 after the first quarter. Both teams scored a touchdown in the second quarter: the Bengals' coming on aJoe Mixon 1-yard run and the Browns' on aBaker Mayfield 7-yard run to give the Browns a 14–13 halftime lead. On the Browns' opening drive of the third quarter, they scored a touchdown on aKareem Hunt 3-yard run to extend their lead to 21–13. The teams traded field goals to finish off the third quarter and also did so in the fourth quarter, to give the Browns a 27–19 win.

With the win, the Browns improved to 6–7.

The Browns traveled to Arizona for a Week 15 tilt with theArizona Cardinals. The Cardinals scored the only first quarter points on aKenyan Drake 5-yard touchdown run, to take a 7–0 lead. The Cardinals extended their lead to 14–0 in the second quarter with a Drake 1-yard touchdown run. The Browns responded with aNick Chubb 33-yard touchdown run and anAustin Seibert 44-yard field goal to close the Cardinals' lead to 14–10. However, the Cardinals extended their lead to 21–10 late in the first half on aKyler Murray 6-yard touchdown pass toDan Arnold. In the third quarter, the Browns scored a touchdown on aBaker Mayfield 2-yard touchdown pass toRicky Seals-Jones, but the Cardinals responded with a Drake 1-yard run to take a 28–17 lead into the fourth quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Seibert missed a 45–yard field goal attempt wide left that would have moved the Browns to within one possession at 28–20. Instead, the Cardinals scored a touchdown on their ensuing drive on a Drake 17-yard run, his fourth touchdown on the day. After a Seals-Jones fumble, former BrownZane Gonzalez kicked a 21-yard field goal to give the Cardinals a 38–17 lead. The Browns added a late touchdown on a Mayfield pass to Seals-Jones to make the final score 38–24.

With the loss, the Browns fell to 6–8.

With the loss, the Browns fell to 6–9. The loss eliminated the Browns from postseason contention for the 17th consecutive season, having last made the playoffs in2002. The Browns were one of only two NFL teams, the other being theTampa Bay Buccaneers, to not make the playoffs during the 2010s. The loss also meant the Browns would not improve upon their 7–8–1 record fromtheir previous season, and it ensured the team's 12th consecutive season with a losing record, having last posted a non-losing record in2007. The Browns finished 4–4 at home.

With the loss, the Browns finished the season 6–10. They finished 2–6 in away games. This marked the Browns' 500th loss since joining the NFL in1950.

Following the game, the Browns fired head coachFreddie Kitchens after one season.^[66] On December 31, the Browns and general managerJohn Dorsey mutually agreed to part ways.^[67] Dorsey had served as the Browns' GM since December 2017.

On December 17, RBNick Chubb and WRJarvis Landry were named to the AFC Roster for the2020 Pro Bowl. This marked Chubb's first Pro Bowl selection and Landry's fifth consecutive and fifth overall selection. Chubb was the AFC's starting running back.^[68] On January 9, 2020, GJoel Bitonio was also named to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement, marking his second consecutive and second overall selection.^[69]

In addition, LBJoe Schobert was named a second alternate, CBDenzel Ward a fourth alternate, and WROdell Beckham Jr. a fifth alternate at their respective positions.^[68]

On January 3, Bitonio was named to theAP All-Pro second team, his second consecutive and second overall All-Pro selection.^[70]

• 2019 Cleveland Browns at Pro Football Reference (Profootballreference.com)
• 2019 Cleveland Browns Statistics at jt-sw.com
• 2019 Cleveland Browns Schedule at jt-sw.com
• 2019 Cleveland Browns^{[dead link]} at DatabaseFootball.com
• Official website
• "Building the Browns 2019," (video) Cleveland Browns, April - Dec., 2019.1: Meet Freddy Kitchens |2: The Combine |3: Odell Beckham Jr. Arrives |4: The NFL Draft |5: Rookie Minicamp|6: Demarious Randall Graduates |7: Organized Team Activities |8. Mandatory Minicamp |9: Training Camp Begins |10: Colts Joint Practices |11: Dawg Days of Camp |12: The Preseason Comes to an End |13: The Start of the Regular Season |14. Overcoming Adversity |15: One Game at a Time |16: Next Man Up |

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