All four Legends
will be inducted at a special ceremony at Cleveland Browns Stadium
during the Browns home game vs. The New York Giants on October 13.
The
Browns created the Cleveland Browns Legends in 2001 to annually honor
former players who have made a major impact on the organization.
Players must have been on the Browns’ active roster for a minimum of
five seasons. The Cleveland Browns Legends were determined by fan
balloting on the Browns’ website – www.clevelandbrowns.com
- (weighted 20%) along with voting by a 10-member Legends Panel
(weighted 80%). Each of the Browns alumni in the Pro Football Hall of
Fame were automatically inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends.
Warren Lahr – Cornerback– 5’11 – 189 lbs – Years with Browns: 1948-59
A
staple in the defensive backfield for the Browns for 12 seasons, Warren
Lahr finished his storied career with 40 interceptions, landing him
second on the all-time franchise list. In 1950, Lahr had his most
prolific season as a cornerback, intercepting a career-best eight
passes and ran back two picks for touchdowns. The Pennsylvania native
followed his stellar 1950 season by returning two more interceptions
for touchdowns in 1951 and started a streak of five seasons (1951-1955)
where he recorded five interceptions. A graduate of Case Western
Reserve, Lahr ended his career with 530 interception return yards and
five defensive touchdowns and cemented his place in Browns history.
Lahr passed away on Jan. 19, 1969.
Paul Wiggin – Defensive End – 6’3 – 242 lbs – Years with Browns: 1957-67
Wiggin
aided with the progression of the defensive end position as one of the
most dominant players of his era on the end of the defensive line. A
sixth-round pick in the 1957 NFL draft out of Stanford University,
Wiggin was a two-time first-team All-America selection and was inducted
into the college football Hall of Fame in 2005. The durable Wiggin was
the picture of endurance, playing in every game for 11 seasons in
Cleveland. Despite playing his entire career at defensive end, Wiggin
recorded three career interceptions and returned his lone interception
in 1960, 20 yards for a touchdown. Born in Modesto, Calif., Wiggin
returned to his alma mater and coached for three years after a
three-year stint as a coach with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Walter Johnson – Defensive Tackle – 6’4 – 275 lbs – Years with Browns: 1965-76
Nicknamed
“Zoom” for his notorious quickness off the ball, Johnson was taken by
the Browns in the second round of 1965 NFL draft and went on to play
every game of all of his 13 seasons in the league. Johnson teamed with
DT Jerry Sherk to create one of the most dominant defensive tackle
tandems of their time. During his career, Johnson fronted a Browns
defense that notched twenty or more forced fumbles in every season he
was on the team. Even as an interior defensive lineman, Johnson
corralled two interceptions during his storied career and even broke
off a 24-yard kickoff return playing special teams in 1972. Born in
Cincinnati, Ohio, Johnson attended Los Angeles State University and
ended his NFL career having played in 182 games. Johnson passed away
on June 30, 1999.
Eric Metcalf – Running Back/Kick Returner – 5’10 – 188 lbs – Years with Browns: 1989-94
An
explosive player at the University of Texas, Metcalf was selected by
the Browns with the 13th overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft and made an
immediate impact. In his rookie season, Metcalf rushed for 633 yards
and six touchdowns while also reeling in 54 receptions for 397 yards
and four scores. As a kick returner, Metcalf was regarded as one of the
most dangerous players with the ball as shown by his 1,052 return yards
in his second season, including two touchdowns one of which came via a
101-yard kickoff return. As his versatility increased throughout his
career, Metcalf earned back-to-back Pro Bowl selections in 1994 and
1995 before he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. With 43 career
touchdowns from scrimmage and 12 more from kickoffs, the Seattle,
Wash., native remains one of the biggest playmakers in the history of
the Browns organization.