After three years in the NFL, Don Colo found a steady home in Cleveland, where he was a silent but lethal contributor to Paul Brown and his defensive corps.
Colo was instrumental in Cleveland's 1954 and 1955 NFL Championships, with the Defensive Tackle using his size and speed to collect three Pro Bowls and three Second Team All-Pros. Colo might be forgotten by some, but not by us, and not by the Browns, who announced him as one of their Legends in 2015.
A member of the College Football Hall of Fame for his work at Baylor, Bill Glass began his pro career in Detroit, but four years later, in 1962, he was traded to Cleveland, which proved to be beneficial for the Defensive End.
In his first year as a Brown, Glass became Cleveland's top pass rusher, accruing 15.5 Sacks and going to his first Pro Bowl. Glass again was a Pro Bowler the next two seasons and was a big part of their 1964 NFL Championship.
Glass set a personal best in 16.5 Sacks in 1965 and had 15 the following year. Again with double-digits in Sacks (10.5) in 1967, Glass earned his fourth Pro Bowl. Retiring in 1968, Glass had 77.5 Sacks for the Browns, and Cleveland listed him as one of their Legends in 2007.
Abe Gibron played his first year of pro football (1949) with the original Buffalo Bills of the AAFC, but that would be the last year of the upstart league, and the Bills were not one of the organizations that would merge with the NFL. A deal was struck with the Browns, and the outgoing Bills ownership sent Gibron and two other players to Cleveland in exchange for a small portion of club ownership.
It was a fantastic landing place for Gibron, who helped the Browns win the 1950 NFL Championship as a backup Guard. As his game improved, Gibron generated a four-year run of Pro Bowls (1952-55), with him playing critical roles in the 1954 and 1955 Titles.
Gibron was released the following year, and he continued to play on with stints in Philadelphia and Chicago. The Browns would induct him as one of their team Legends in 2015.
A star at Purdue, Mike Pruitt only had to travel one state east when the Browns drafted him in the Second Round in 1976. Pruitt did not have a lot of playing time early on, but after receiving more playing time in 1978, the Fullback was poised for a breakout.
In 1979, Pruitt had the best year as a pro, posting what would be personal bests in Rushing Yards (1,294) and Yards From Scrimmage (1,666) and a trip to the Pro Bowl was his reward. Pruitt went to the Pro Bowl again in 1980, again going over 1,500 Yards from Scrimmage.
The Pro Bowls were over for Pruitt, but not the production. He again had over 1,500 YFS in 1981, and in 1983, Pruitt had his fourth 1,000-yard rushing year with the Browns.
Pruitt slowed down afterward and would be released before the 1985 Season. With Cleveland, Pruitt collected 8,301 Yards From Scrimmage and was named a Legend by the team in 2004.