The annual NFL draft represents a renewal for the Cleveland Browns. The April timeline brings in springtime in every NFL city. The youth selected demonstrates the ability to reintroduce efforts to make the roster a better environment with younger enthusiasm.
But the warmer days also remind us of the loved ones we have lost in our lifetime, with dedicated days such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day being recognized in late spring and early summer.
RELATED: BEN GAY DIES IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Our heroes don’t last forever. Just as our heroes are celebrated in life, here is a snapshot of several former Browns who passed from this earth in 2024.
Photo by Brian Costgill/Getty Images
RB Ben Gay
Age: 44
Passing date: July
Career: Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 2000, Browns 2001, Indianapolis Colts 2002
Gay was a bouncer when he signed a deal with Edmonton of the CFL. After one season, he signed with the Browns, where he played in all 16 games. In Week 9 he entered the game against the Baltimore Ravens and had 18 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown, his lone NFL score. He played quite a bit in the next two contests before being relegated back to special teams.
He was involved in a car accident in Colorado when he passed.
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
DT Earl Edwards
Age: 78
Passing date: May
Career: Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 1967-1968, San Francisco 49ers 1969-1972, Buffalo Bills 1973-1975, Browns 1976-1978, Green Bay Packers 1979
Edwards was a lot bigger in his day than just about any football player standing 6’-7”. In the days when very few professional athletes tipped the 300-pound mark, he was just 260 pounds despite playing in the center of the defensive line.
Coming out of high school, Edwards had 26 college offers. In his sophomore year at Wichita State, he was named the Missouri Valley Sophomore Lineman of the Year. Before his junior year, the head coach dismissed Edwards and two other players, but then attempted to rescind the suspensions. This did not sit well with Edwards, who then left school and signed with Edmonton in the CFL and received All-Star votes in both years.
In 1969, he was officially drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round and signed with them for a larger contract after San Fran paid off Edmonton to release Edwards from his deal.
He came to Cleveland and played next to Jerry Sherk and split time with Walter Johnson. Always a right DT, he was moved to left DT in 1977 and started the next 30 games for the Browns.
Edwards had 51 career sacks, including 9.5 in 1973 while in Buffalo.
RB Dub Jones
Age: 99
Passing date: November
Career: Miami (AAFC) 1946, Brooklyn (AAFC) 1947, Browns 1948-1955
A former Navy seaman in World War II, Jones was signed to the newly-formed All-America Football Conference, and was traded from Miami to Brooklyn to Cleveland. With the Browns, he was part of five championships as a player and was the receivers coach with the Browns’ 1964 NFL title team.
Jones rushed for 2,210 yards on 540 carries and scored 21 touchdowns. He was also an excellent receiver with 171 receptions for 2,874 yards and another 20 TDs.
RELATED: BROWN HISTORY: OLDEST LIVING PLAYER PASSES
He was enshrined in the Cleveland Browns Legends in 2004. Jones was named First Team All-Pro in 1951 and earned two Pro Bowls to go along with his six pro football championships. At the time of his death last November, he was the oldest living Cleveland Brown.
Getty Images
QB Jim Ninowski
Age: 88
Passing date: July
Career: Browns 1958-1959, Detroit Lions 1960-1961, Browns 1962-1966, Washington Redskins 1967-1968, New Orleans Saints 1969
After a stellar college career in which he was voted First Team All-Big 10, Nino was invited to the Senior Bowl where his coach was Browns head coach Paul Brown. He was selected as the North team’s Most Valuable Player in the game, and Coach Brown selected him in Round 4 of the following NFL draft.
Ninowski had a cannon for an arm, and he was a great runner. Ninowski beat out the veteran as a rookie, but in those days, rookies did not play. After two seasons, Coach Brown shipped Ninowski off to the Lions, where he flourished. Then, Coach Brown traded for him and brought him back to Cleveland, stating his original trade to Detroit was a mistake.
RELATED: JIM NINOWSKI INTERVIEW
Nino took the starting job and in 1962, Nino started the first seven games but broke his collarbone in Week 7. Backup QB Frank Ryan took over for the remainder of the season and never relinquished the starting gig despite the unwritten rule that a starter could not lose his job to an injury. Nino was part of the Browns’ 1964 NFL Championship team.
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images
QB Frank Ryan
Age: 87
Passing date: January
Career: Los Angeles Rams 1958-1961, Browns 1962-1968, Washington Redskins 1969-1970
Ryan was a math wiz, published two fundamental papers, and after football earned his Ph.D. from Rice University. Ryan received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1965.
Drafted by the Rams in the fifth round of the 1958 NFL draft, as a career backup, he was traded to the Browns on the suggestion of Cleveland QB Jim Ninowski as a young talent who had potential.
Ryan took over for Nino after an injury, and then Browns head coach Blanton Collier decided to keep him as the starter. He was under center in Cleveland’s title win in 1964. He started 76 games for the Browns, throwing for 16,042 career yards with 149 TDs against 111 interceptions.
DE Marvin Upshaw
Age: 77
Passing date: June
Career: Browns 1968-1969, Kansas City Chiefs 1970-1975, St. Louis Cardinals 1976
Upshaw was taken in Round 1 of the 1968 NFL draft by Cleveland head coach Blanton Collier. Five future Hall of Famers were selected in various rounds afterwards.
With the two years in Cleveland, he played in all 28 games but started just 13. He was traded to the Chiefs and had a successful career there, playing six seasons with 60 starts and netting 25 sacks, including 9.5 in 1974.
His brother Gene played for the Oakland Raiders and was deeply involved in the players’ union.
RB/WR Dwight Walker
Age: 66
Passing date: April
Career: Browns 1982-1984, New Orleans Saints 1987
Taken in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL draft, Walker had a great season in 1983 with the Browns. In that season, he played in all 16 games, mainly as a receiver. He had 29 catches for 273 yards and a score. He also rushed for 100 yards on 19 carries.
In 1984, he was involved in a horrible car accident and was forced to retire due to his continuing injuries. Walker returned to the NFL in 1987, playing for the Saints for one season and appeared in two games with two receptions for 15 yards.