Browns to honor Otto Graham with a statue

The Cleveland Browns will honor Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Graham with a statue at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The statue, which will be created by nationally-recognized sculptor David L. Deming, will be unveiled on September 7 as part of the team’s Fantennial Weekend and Alumni Weekend. Following the event, fans will have the opportunity to meet Browns alumni and attend autograph sessions.

The statue is another way for the Browns to recognize major team contributors, team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said in a prepared statement via clevelandbrowns.com:

“As we celebrate the NFL’s 100th season, we are honored to pay tribute to Otto Graham with this timeless sculpture that will properly recognize him not only as one of the Browns’ top players but also as one of pro football’s greatest all-time quarterbacks. This year’s Alumni Weekend will be truly special as we welcome many of our Browns Legends back home in Cleveland, as well as have the opportunity to thank and host many members of Otto Graham’s family.”

It is just the latest honor for Graham this summer, as he was previously named as the fifth-best quarterback in league history by NFL.com.

Graham was the first player signed by head coach Paul Brown as he began assembling his team for the new All-America Football Conference. During his 10-year career with the Browns, which started on September 6, 1946, when he threw his first career touchdown pass in a 44-0 win against the Miami Seahawks, Graham would lead the Browns to 10 league title games and seven championships.

The final game of his career game came in the 1955 NFL Championship Game as Graham threw for two touchdown passes and ran for two more to lead the Browns to a 38-14 win against the Los Angeles Rams. That season marked the ninth time that Graham was selected as first-team all-league quarterback.

Graham was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965, one of 16 Browns currently in the hall.

He joins running back Jim Brown as team legends to be honored with a statue at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Maybe now that the Graham statue is in the works, the Haslams can start preparations for a statue to honor former head coach Paul Brown.