On December 27, 1964, the Cleveland Browns secured their most recent NFL championship by defeating the Baltimore Colts with a score of 27-0. This victory marked a significant moment in the franchise”s history, yet much has changed in the 61 years since that day.
In the immediate aftermath of the championship, the population of the United States was around 194 million. Today, that figure has nearly doubled to approximately 348 million. The first Super Bowl would not be played until after the 1966 season, when the Green Bay Packers triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 35-10. At the time of the Browns” championship, the NFL consisted of only 14 teams divided into two conferences.
Significant historical events unfolded shortly after the Browns” victory, including the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. The Browns were led by their second head coach, Blanton Collier, during the 1964 season. Collier retired after the 1970 season, and since then, the franchise has seen 16 full-time coaches, with Kevin Stefanski being the 10th since the team”s return to the league as an expansion team in 1999.
In terms of education, the tuition for in-state students at Ohio State University was approximately $450 in the 1964-65 academic year, while it is projected to be around $13,600 for the 2025-26 year. While Collier had a small coaching staff of five assistants, Stefanski now oversees 18 assistant coaches.
Technological advancements have also transformed daily life. In 1964, rotary phones were commonplace, but today, mobile phones are ubiquitous. Additionally, bulky televisions have been replaced by flat-screen models, and laptops and tablets have made manual typewriters obsolete.
The 1964 NFL championship was played during a time when television coverage was not as widespread. Although the game was nationally televised by CBS, Art Modell, the Browns” owner, decided to black out the broadcast within a 70-mile radius of Cleveland, which frustrated many local fans. To watch the game, fans had to travel to distant cities or use creative methods to get reception.
Collier, who passed away in 1983, had a remarkable coaching record of 76 wins, 34 losses, and 2 ties, and he is a strong candidate for the Ring of Honor at the Huntington Bank Field. Another deserving candidate is Gary Collins, who caught three touchdown passes in the 1964 championship and remains the franchise”s all-time leader with 70 touchdown receptions.
During the 1960s, the ambience in Ohio was different, with the smell of burning leaves commonplace until it was banned for environmental reasons in 1973. The Cleveland Barons also enjoyed success, winning their last Calder Cup championship in 1964.
At the time of the Browns” victory, Cleveland was home to two major sports teams—the Indians and the Browns—while the Cavaliers were still a new addition to the NBA.
As the Browns continue to seek their next championship, the memories of 1964 serve as a reminder of a different era in sports and society.
