Deshaun Watsons Is Right About Steelers-Browns Rivalry
Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
In the realm of sports, hate isn’t just accepted—it’s encouraged. The animosity that brews in the hearts of the children of rival franchises suckles at the teat of contempt. Stirred by unforgettable wins and heartbreaking losses, rivalries are the lifeblood that makes sports go and fuels the spirit of competition.
This week, Deshaun Watson sparked controversy with his comments on the Browns-Steelers rivalry, suggesting it ranks among the greatest in all of professional sports. This opinion ignited passionate debates among sports fans who often overlook this classic rivalry in favor of more publicized ones like Yankees/Red Sox, Ohio State/Michigan, or Lakers/Celtics. Yet, the Browns-Steelers rivalry, steeped in history and passion, stands as one of the most significant in professional sports.
The rivalry that has a combined 55 Hall of Famers between the two teams extends all the way back to October 7, 1950, when Cleveland played Pittsburgh for the first time after joining the NFL. Led by coach Paul Brown and featuring stars like Otto Graham and Marion Motley, the Browns quickly established themselves as a powerhouse, trouncing Pittsburgh 30-17. The rivalry pretty much went that way for the first fifteen years. From 1950 to 1975, the Browns dominated the rivalry, going 34-7-1, but the 1970s saw the Steelers become one of the most dominant teams in NFL history under coach Chuck Noll. The “Steel Curtain” defense, featuring legends like “Mean” Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, and Mel Blount, along with a showtime offense featuring Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, and Franco Harris, became a symbol of Pittsburgh’s gritty, hard-nosed style. The Browns, though less successful in terms of Super Bowls, remained fierce competitors with players like Brian Sipe leading the “Kardiac Kids,” known for their dramatic, last-minute victories.
The rivalry continued to thrive in the 1980s and 1990s, producing several iconic moments. One such moment was the “Turkey Jones” game in 1976. Defensive end Joe “Turkey” Jones delivered a devastating hit on Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, driving him headfirst into the turf. This play became emblematic of the rivalry’s brutal and hard-hitting nature.
In the 1994 AFC Wild Card game, the Steelers defeated the Browns 29-9, marking Pittsburgh’s resurgence under coach Bill Cowher. This game was significant as it was the last playoff game the Browns played before the franchise was controversially moved to Baltimore in 1996, becoming the Ravens. This move added another layer of complexity and bitterness to the rivalry.
In recent years, the Browns-Steelers rivalry has seen a resurgence in competitiveness, particularly with their playoff victory over the Steelers in the 2020 season, marking a significant turning point. Led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Browns defeated the Steelers 48-37 in the AFC Wild Card round, securing their first playoff win since 1994 and their first playoff victory over Pittsburgh. This game signaled a new era for the Browns and revitalized the rivalry, promising fierce contests for years to come.
You’ll hear a lot of people claim that Cleveland and Pittsburgh isn’t much of a rivalry because the Steelers have dominated the Browns for the last couple of decades. Well, Cleveland dominated them for the first couple of decades. From 1950 to when the Browns left in 1996 the overall record was 45-31-1 in favor of The Browns.
Yes, Pittsburgh has 6 Super Bowl trophies but we tend to forget that the Browns have eight championships in their history across two leagues. Fans will often point out that those came before the Super Bowl era, so those shouldn’t count count. Well, I would like to see those fans go up to Jim Brown, Vince Lombardi, Len Dawson, George Blanda, Otto Graham, and Frank Gatski and say their championships don’t count as championships because they weren’t called “Super Bowls.”
(Yes, I know they’re all dead, and you can’t do that. I am being hyperbolic, and I didn’t mean to literally do that. I respect the dead, and you should too. We are football fans, but let’s try to be civilized.)
I don’t say these things to disparage The Steelers organization. That would be a futile and stupid thing to do. They are objectively one of the greatest in professional sports. I say these things to remind you that The NFL, as we know it, exists because of Pittsburgh, because of Cleveland, and because of the guys who wore those uniforms and played in eras where you actually got dropped on your head, and player safety extended only as far as your facemask, which, by the way, we have Otto Graham to thank for.
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