Selected in the 1950 AAFC dispersal draft after spending his first two professional seasons with the Los Angeles Dons, Len Ford arrived in Cleveland as a game-changing defensive force. Over eight seasons in brown and orange, Ford anchored the defensive line with unblockable edge power and relentless pursuit, fundamentally changing how the defensive end position was played in professional football.

Ford exhibited an uncommon combination of length, inherent strength, and acceleration in open space, cultivated during his tenure as a two-way end. Serving as Cleveland's principal right defensive end, his remarkable explosiveness at the start of plays compelled opposing offenses to modify their pass protection strategies. His impact was so profound that head coach Paul Brown and defensive coordinator Blanton Collier reconfigured their defensive formations to focus on him against edge rushers—thus laying the foundation for the contemporary 4-3 defensive scheme.

Ford overcame a severe facial injury early in his debut season in 1950 with Cleveland, returning in time for the championship game with a protective facemask that contributed to the Browns' victory in the 1950 NFL Championship. This display of resilience initiated an exceptional period of personal prominence, as Ford received four consecutive First-Team All-Pro honors and four consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1951 to 1954.

He was a key defensive player for Cleveland, helping the team allow the fewest points in the NFL in six of seven seasons during the 1950s. Ford also played a big role in two more championship wins, contributing to back-to-back NFL Championship victories in 1954 and 1955. In the 1954 championship game against Detroit, he made a great start by catching two interceptions in a decisive 56–10 victory.

Ford left Cleveland after 1957 and played one last NFL season with the Green Bay Packers in 1958. Over nine seasons, he recovered 20 fumbles and was one of the top pass rushers of his era. Named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, Ford was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976. In 2010, Cleveland honored him by inducting him into the inaugural Browns Ring of Honor.