Through the rules at the time, Miami Hurricanes Quarterback and National Champion Bernie Kosar were available in the 1985 Supplemental Draft, which allowed him to play for the team he wanted to, the Cleveland Browns.

Kosar started as a backup to Gary Danielson, but an injury to the incumbent escalated Kosar’s emergence as a starter.  While Kosar had feet of concrete, he had an accurate and fast arm, and led the Browns to the playoffs.  Kosar remained the team's starter, and the offense shifted to a more pass-oriented style.  He took Cleveland to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to Denver, but Kosar was established as a high-profile football player.

Statistically speaking, 1987 was his best year, as he had his second straight 3,000 Yard year and threw for a career-high 22 Touchdowns.  Kosar went to the Pro Bowl that year, which would be the only time he received that honor.  He would have two more 3,400-Yard plus years for Cleveland, but the beginning of the end for Kosar as a Brown was the emergence of Vinny Testaverde and Head Coach Bill Belichick, who was not enamored with Kosar.

Testaverde would become the starter in 1993, and Kosar was released during the season.

Kosar might not have reached the expectation placed on him, but he was immensely popular in his prime and threw for 21,904 Yards and 116 Touchdowns as a Brown.  The organization named him as a Legend in the first group in 2001.