09/07/2026
The late Paul Brown was born 118 years ago. Cincinnati head coach Paul Brown is pictured below with Don Shula after the Miami Dolphins defeated the Bengals 34-16 in a 1973 AFC divisional playoff game at the Orange Bowl. Brown is arguably the most influential and important football coach in the history of the game.
A native of Massillon, Ohio, Brown is considered the first true modern football coach. He directed his teams to championships at every level, winning titles at Massillon Washington High School, Ohio State University and the Cleveland Browns. Even more impressive than Brown's won-loss record is his influence on the game. Brown revolutionized how coaches and players study film. He was the first coach to use film to scout opponents. His 1946 Cleveland Browns included African American players Marion Motley and Bill Willis, integrating professional sports one year before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier. He invented the facemask to protect his quarterback Otto Graham with the Cleveland Browns. He's also credited with inventing many plays that are still used in the game today, including the draw play. But perhaps Brown's greatest influence on the game is his amazing coaching tree of former players and assistant coaches who also went on to greatness. Among his disciples were Don Shula, Chuck Noll, Weeb Ewbank, Blanton Collier and Bill Walsh.
Altogether Brown won 5 state and 4 mythical national titles as Massillion Washington High School. He won a national title at Ohio State in 1942. Brown captured 4 All American Football Conference titles with the Cleveland Browns (1946-1949), including a perfect season in 1948. He won 3 NFL titles with the Browns when the franchise joined the league in 1950. He was the first head coach of both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. He was also an executive for both franchises. The Bengals home stadium was named after him. Paul Brown passed away on August 5, 1991 in Cincinnati. He was 82.
