The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The team was founded in 1946 as a member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and joined the National Football League (NFL) as a result of the AAFC-NFL merger in 1950. The Browns have played in the AFC North division of the NFL since the 2002 season.

The team has had a number of successful seasons throughout its history, including multiple NFL championships in the 1950s and a run of playoff appearances in the 1980s and 1990s. However, the team has also struggled at times, and has not won a playoff game since the 1994 season.

Despite their ups and downs, the Browns remain a popular team with a dedicated fan base. The team plays its home games at FirstEnergy Stadium, which is located on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland.

In recent years, the Browns have undergone significant changes in an effort to improve their on-field performance. In 2018, the team hired a new head coach, Freddie Kitchens, and selected Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Mayfield, a quarterback from the University of Oklahoma, has since become one of the league's most promising young players.

The 2019 season was a breakout year for the Browns, as they finished with a record of 6-10 and narrowly missed the playoffs. In 2020, the team hired a new head coach, Kevin Stefanski, and acquired a number of key players through free agency and the draft. The team finished the 2020 season with an 11-5 record and made the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Despite their success, the Browns have faced criticism for their inconsistency and have struggled to put together sustained runs of success.