Acquired from the Detroit Lions before the 1962 season, Bill Glass arrived in Cleveland as a proven talent looking for the right system to unlock his game. The former Baylor All-American and future College Football Hall of Famer made an immediate impact along the defensive line, quickly cementing himself as the team's undisputed premier pass-rushing threat.

In his inaugural campaign in orange and brown, Glass terrorized opposing passers from the defensive end spot. Though sacks were not officially tracked during his era, retroactive film analysis credits him with a dominant 15.5 sacks in 1962, earning him his first career Pro Bowl selection. His relentless edge pressure gave Cleveland a ferocious pass rush that transformed the entire defense.

Glass remained the focal point of the front four over the next several seasons. He earned back-to-back Pro Bowl honors in 1963 and 1964, serving as a core starter on the iconic 1964 squad that shut out the Baltimore Colts 27–0 to capture the NFL Championship. His individual production hit its peak in 1965 with a career-high 16.5 sacks, followed by a 15-sack campaign in 1966. He added a fourth Pro Bowl nod in 1967 after logging another 10.5 sacks, bringing his streak to five double-digit sack seasons in six years.

Glass retired after the 1968 season and compiled 77.5 sacks for the squad.  He was named a Cleveland Browns Legend in 2007.