Art Modell

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Modell's relationship with Cleveland began with promise. In January 1961, his group purchased the team for roughly $4 million. He was quoted saying, "my only business and I am going to keep my hands on it." His background in advertising led to innovations like scheduling preseason doubleheaders at Cleveland Stadium in 1962. The 1964 season saw the Browns finish 10–3–1 and defeat the Baltimore Colts 27–0 in the NFL Championship Game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. However, tensions rose quickly. Before the 1962 season, head coach Paul Brown traded Bobby Mitchell for Ernie Davis without Modell's knowledge; notably, Leroy Jackson remained with the Browns and was not part of this transaction. When Davis was diagnosed with terminal leukemia, Brown refused to play him against Modell's wishes; Davis died without ever playing a snap. This rift, combined with player concerns over Brown's demeanor, led Modell to fire Brown on January 28, 1963.

In Their Own Story

The turning point in Modell's Cleveland legacy arrived during the mid-1960s and culminated in 1995. After winning the 1964 title, no other team under his ownership won a league championship, though they reached six more title games and lost them all. Modell served as chairman of the league Television Committee from 1962 to 1993, helping grow TV deals from $14 million to $3.6 billion by 1990. Despite these successes, conflicts over player contracts and stadium management grew. In 1965, he threatened fines against Jim Brown for missing camp to film "The Dirty Dozen," leading to Brown's retirement in July 1966. Later, in 1967, five African American players refused to report; Modell traded or released four, keeping only Leroy Kelly. By 1995, disputes over the construction of a replacement stadium for Cleveland Stadium led Modell to attempt relocation to Baltimore. The resulting settlement allowed him to keep all personnel contracts and form the Ravens as a 1996 expansion team, while the Browns' name stayed in Cleveland.

Reader's Guide

Understanding the Art Modell era requires balancing his business acumen with his controversial moves. He transformed the NFL financially, serving as NFL President from 1967 to 1969 and chairing the Television Committee for over three decades. His decision to move the Browns to the American Football Conference in 1970 was pivotal during the AFL–NFL merger. He also facilitated the first prime-time Thanksgiving game in 1966 and the opening Monday Night Football broadcast in 1970. Yet, his management of Cleveland Stadium and the eventual relocation remain defining controversies. The settlement terms are specific: Modell left the name and heritage in Cleveland for a new team in 1999 but kept all player contracts to launch the Ravens. This distinction separates the franchise's history from its personnel, creating two distinct legacies under one owner.

Did You Know?

• Modell graduated from John Marshall High School and later attended the Case Institute of Technology (now part of Case Western Reserve University).
• He installed televisions at his own expense in Grand Union grocery store aisles to broadcast football games to customers, a move that became very popular because few households had TVs at the time.

Early Entrepreneurial Rise

Modell was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. His father George went bankrupt after the 1929 stock market crash and died when Modell was 14. At age 15, he left high school to support his family, cleaning ship hulls in a Brooklyn shipyard. In 1943, at age 18, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. After World War II service, he enrolled in a New York City television school under the G.I. Bill. In 1947, he founded a production company with a fellow student; by 1949, they produced "Market Melodies," one of the first daytime shows dedicated to cooking and decorating. Modell sold the concept to Grand Union grocery stores, installing televisions at his expense in their aisles where the show became very popular. In 1954, leveraging this account, he became a senior account executive at L.H. Hartman Co., eventually becoming a partner. The firm handled liquor advertising. In 1958, Modell bought Gold Seal Vineyards Inc. In 1960, after L.H. Hartman dissolved, he joined Kastor, Hilton, Chesley, Clifford & Atherton as senior vice president.

Acquisition and Early Ownership

In 1960, Modell learned the Cleveland Browns were for sale from someone close to Fred "Curly" Morrison. Two groups were interested: one led by Bill Evans of Diamond Alkali and another headlined by Rudy Schaefer of the Schaefer Brewing Company with Modell. Head coach Paul Brown held final say on any sale. In January 1961, it was announced the Modell group would buy the team for roughly $4 million, using personal funds and loans. Named chairman, Modell stated the team was his "only business." In his first season (1961), the Browns won eight games, finishing third despite the schedule increasing to 14 games. Before the 1962 season, Brown traded Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Jackson for Ernie Davis without telling Modell. Marshall informed Modell of the trade, prompting Modell to chide Brown. Davis had terminal leukemia; though some doctors said playing wouldn't hurt him and Davis wanted to play, Brown refused to activate him. Davis died the following year without playing a snap.

Conflict with Paul Brown

Tensions between Modell and Brown intensified after the Ernie Davis incident. Players like quarterback Milt Plum and Jim Brown questioned Brown's methods and demeanor. The new owner, closer in age to the players, became their confidant. Three weeks after a season where the Browns won seven games and finished third again, Modell fired Brown on January 9, 1963, during a Cleveland newspaper strike. Modell cited two main reasons among "maybe 25": the team's potential wasn't being realized, and at least seven players wouldn't return under previous conditions. He named Blanton Collier head coach on January 16, 1963.

Relocation and Legacy

The 1964 Browns finished 10–3–1 and beat the Baltimore Colts 27–0 in the NFL Championship Game. No other Modell-owned team in Cleveland won a title, though they reached six more championship games and lost all. Modell served as NFL President from 1967 to 1969 and chaired the Television Committee from 1962 to 1993. He moved the Browns to the AFC for the 1970 merger and allowed them to host the first prime-time Thanksgiving game (1966) and Monday Night Football opener (1970). In 1965, he threatened fines against Jim Brown for missing camp, leading to Brown's retirement in July 1966. In 1967, five African American players refused to report; Modell traded or released four, keeping only Leroy Kelly. In 1995, facing scorn over stadium issues, Modell attempted to move the Browns to Baltimore. The NFL settlement required him to leave the name and heritage in Cleveland for a new team starting in 1999. He retained all personnel contracts and formed the Baltimore Ravens as a 1996 expansion team.