Every year, the Cleveland Browns typically have at least one former player represented in the Super Bowl. Outlined below are players, coaches, or front office personnel who were formerly members of the Browns on either the New England Patriots or the Philadelphia Eagles. The parenthesis represent the time span they were with Cleveland.
At the end of the post, we will post a quick year-by-year look at the Browns’ roster make up following the end of the season.
Former Browns on the New England Patriots
- QB Brian Hoyer (2013-2014) - Hoyer made 16 starts with the Browns over two seasons, which is the most he’s had after being with 7 different franchises during his career. He was doing a great job leading the Browns in 2014, but after a few weeks of struggles and QB Johnny Manziel waiting in the wings, the whole thing went to hell. Hoyer was the starter for the 49ers this year, but he was benched and then *basically* traded to the Patriots when San Francisco acquired QB Jimmy Garoppolo. He is the Patriots’ backup, should anything happen to QB Tom Brady.
- RB Dion Lewis (2013-2014) - In 2013, former Browns CEO Joe Banner acquired Lewis in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. In camp and the early parts of the preseason, Lewis looked electric. Then, he broke his leg, and the following year was not given a real chance to make the roster amid another regime change. Lewis caught on with the Patriots, where he is a regular weapon among their rotation of running backs.
- WR Kenny Britt (2017) - Britt was a disaster for the Browns this year after signing a big 4-year contract to replace WR Terrelle Pryor. One of GM John Dorsey’s first moves was to cut ties with Britt, who then signed with the Patriots. Britt was inactive for the first two playoff games, so he’ll probably be inactive for the Super Bowl...but he still has a chance to get a ring.
- CB Johnson Bademosi (2012-2015) - After a one-year stint with Detroit, Bademosi signed with the Patriots this offseason. He played some spot duty on defense near the middle of the season, but otherwise is used as a special teamer, where he led the unit with 9 tackles.
- Head Coach Bill Belichick (1991-1995) - After leaving Cleveland, Belichick has found long-sustained success in New England. Even with the reported “rifts” we heard about a couple of weeks ago, here he is, at yet another Super Bowl.
- Football Research Director Ernie Adams (1991-1995) - Adams worked as an offensive assistant with the Browns during Bill Belichick’s time in Cleveland. That was his last time in a coaching gig; he’s been on the administrative staff with New England since 2000.
- Assistant Special Teams Coach Ray Ventrone (2009-2012) - Ventrone was a backup safety and special teams ace with the Browns for four years. Since 2015, he’s served as the Patriots’ assistant special teams coach.
Former Browns on the Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Bryce Treggs (2017) - Needing help at the receiver position, the Browns signed Treggs off the Eagles’ practice squad during the year and gave him some immediate playing time. That time faded once the team got WR Josh Gordon and WR Corey Coleman back, and Treggs was eventually waived. The Eagles picked him back up, but he’s only on their practice squad heading into the big game.
- Head Coach Doug Pederson (2000) - Pederson was a quarterback for the Browns way back in 2000, and he quickly progressed through the coaching ranks to be the Eagles’ head coach starting in 2016.
- Quarterbacks Coach John DeFilippo (2015) - When the relatively unknown DeFilippo became the Browns’ offensive coordinator in 2015, he won a lot of support despite the team’s struggles. It looked like he had a nice future as a playcaller, but then Hue Jackson was hired and he cleaned out the coaching staff. DeFilippo has since been working as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach, but he’s been in discussions for coordinator or head coaching opportunities.
- Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz (1993-1995) - In his three years with Cleveland, Schwartz held the title of “personnel scout.” Only after that did his coaching background begin, where he’s held a variety of coaching gigs and is getting a lot of credit for the Eagles’ tenacious defense this postseason.
- Linebackers Coach Ken Flajole (2013-2015) - Flajole was the Browns’ inside linebackers coach for three years.
- Safeties Coach Tim Hauck (2012) - Hauck was the Browns’ defensive backs coach for one year.