Tragic Cleveland Browns Deaths

1962 Browns trade Hall of Fame WR Bobby Mitchell to the Washington Redskins for the rights to overall #1 pick, Heisman Trophy winner RB Ernie Davis from Syracuse. Davis never plays a down for the Browns and dies from leukemia. Led to eventual firing of coach/founder Paul Brown by then owner Art Modell. Ernie Davis' number 45 is retired by the Cleveland Browns.

June 27, 1986 Browns’ Safety and UCLA alum Don Rogers dies from cocaine poisoning.
Former Cleveland Brown and UCLA alum Eric Turner dies from cancer at the age of 31 in May of 2000.

Team Owner Al Lerner dies in October 2002. His death came four years to the day that he was awarded the new Browns’ franchise. He died from a brain tumor at the age of 69. A patch with the letters "AL" are worn on the sleeves of the Browns jersey today.