The 2014 season was the Cleveland Browns' 62nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 66th overall, and their first under new head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer. The Browns improved upon their 4–12 record from 2013, finishing 7–9. The team started the season 6–3 with sole possession of the AFC North lead, but lost six of their last seven games to finish 7–9 and fail to make the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year, the longest postseason drought in franchise history. This also marked the Browns' seventh consecutive season with a losing record.
Offseason
Personnel changes
Coaching staff changes On December 29, 2013, the Browns fired head coach Rob Chudzinski. In his only season as coach, Chudzinski posted a record of 4–12, including a 7-game losing streak to end the season, although he ended the Browns' 11-game losing streak to the division rival Baltimore Ravens. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner left the team to take the same position with the Minnesota Vikings, and defensive coordinator Ray Horton took the same position with the Tennessee Titans.
On January 23, 2014, the Browns hired former Buffalo Bills' defensive coordinator Mike Pettine as head coach. Pettine served as defensive coordinator of the Bills in , defensive coordinator of the New York Jets from 2009 to 2012, and a defensive assistant with the Baltimore Ravens from 2002 to 2008. This was Pettine's first opportunity as an NFL head coach.
On January 27, the Browns hired former Bills' linebackers coach Jim O'Neil as defensive coordinator. O'Neil has served as a defensive assistant under Pettine with both the Jets and the Bills.
Also, on January 27, the Browns filled out their defensive coaching staff by adding three assistant coaches who worked under Pettine in Buffalo: Chuck Driesbach as linebackers coach, Brian Fleury as assistant linebackers coach and Jeff Hafley as secondary coach. The Browns also hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers' tight ends coach Brian Angelichio to the same position and retained assistant secondary coach Bobby Babich, special teams coach Chris Tabor, and assistant special teams coach Shawn Mennenga from Chudzinski's coaching staff.
On February 3, the Browns hired former Washington Redskins' offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to take the same position with the team. Shanahan, the son of Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan, served as the Houston Texans' offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2009, and the Redskins' offensive coordinator from 2010 to 2013.
Front office changes
On February 11, the Browns fired general manager Mike Lombardi and promoted assistant general manager Ray Farmer to take his place as GM. In addition, CEO Joe Banner resigned from his role with the team.
Also on February 11, the Browns hired Bill Kuharich as assistant general manager to Farmer. Kuharich worked with Farmer in the Kansas City Chiefs player personnel department, and has also worked in the New Orleans Saints player personnel department.
Roster changes
Free agents Pos Player Tag 2014 Team Signed G Oniel Cousins UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers March 16 K Billy Cundiff UFA Cleveland Browns March 6 G Shawn Lauvao UFA Washington Redskins March 11 C Alex Mack UFA/TT Cleveland Browns April 11 RB Willis McGahee UFA LB Craig Robertson ERFA Cleveland Browns March 6 S T. J. Ward UFA Denver Broncos March 11
Players shaded in green re-signed with the Browns UFA: Unrestricted free agent RFA: Restricted free agent ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent FT: Player was designated with the franchise tag TT: Player was designated with the transition tag
Releases Pos Player Released 2014 Team Signed WR Davone Bess March 5 QB Jason Campbell March 12 Cincinnati Bengals March 19 LB D'Qwell Jackson February 26 Indianapolis Colts March 6 WR Greg Little May 16 Oakland Raiders May 19 QB Brandon Weeden March 12 Dallas Cowboys March 17
Signings Pos Player 2013 Team Signed WR Anthony Armstrong N/A May 19 WR Miles Austin Dallas Cowboys May 15 WR Earl Bennett Chicago Bears May 15 WR Nate Burleson Detroit Lions April 6 LB Karlos Dansby Arizona Cardinals March 11 LB Zac Diles Tennessee Titans May 1 TE Jim Dray Arizona Cardinals March 13 WR Andrew Hawkins Cincinnati Bengals March 18 G Paul McQuistan Seattle Seahawks March 24 FB Chris Pressley Cincinnati Bengals April 14 RB Ben Tate Houston Texans March 15 QB Tyler Thigpen N/A May 1 CB Isaiah Trufant New York Jets March 11 S Donte Whitner San Francisco 49ers March 11 QB Vince Young Green Bay Packers May 1
Draft
Notes The Browns traded their original first-round selection (No. 4 overall) to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for the Bills' first round selection (No. 9 overall) and their 2015 first and fourth round selections. The Browns then traded the No. 9 overall selection, along with their fifth round selection (No. 145 overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the No. 8 overall selection. The Browns acquired an additional first-round selection (No. 26 overall) in a trade that sent running back Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts. The Browns traded the No. 26 selection, along with a third round selection (No. 83 overall), to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the No. 22 overall selection. The Browns acquired an additional third-round selection (No. 83 overall) in a trade that sent the team's 2013 fourth-round selection to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This selection was later traded to the Eagles (see above). The Browns acquired an additional fourth-round selection (No. 127 overall) in a trade that sent the team's 2013 fifth-round selection to the Indianapolis Colts. The Browns did not have selections from rounds 5–7 as a result of the following trades: Trading the No. 145 selection to the Minnesota Vikings (see above). Trading the No. 106 and No. 180 selections to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the No. 94 selection. Trading traded the No. 218 selection to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their sixth-round selection in the 2015 NFL draft.
Undrafted free agent signings Pos Player College Signed FB Ray Agnew III Southern Illinois May 12 DL Calvin Barnett Oklahoma State May 12 DB Darwin Cook West Virginia May 12 RB Isaiah Crowell Alabama State May 12 OL Anthony Dima Massachusetts May 12 WR Chandler Jones San Jose State May 12 WR Jonathan Krause Vanderbilt May 12 DL Elhadji Ndiaye Nebraska-Kearney May 15 OL Michael Philipp Oregon State May 12 QB Connor Shaw South Carolina May 12 WR Kenny Shaw Florida State May 12 WR Willie Snead Ball State May 12
Gordon suspension On May 9, it was announced that wide receiver Josh Gordon could face a possible season-long suspension due to a fourth failed drug test. On July 4, 2014, Josh Gordon was arrested for DWI in Raleigh, NC. On August 27, the suspension was upheld after Gordon's appeal. On September 12, after the NFL and the NFLPA approved a new drug testing program, Gordon's suspension was retroactively reduced to 10 games. On November 17, his reinstatement was officially announced and he returned Week 12 at the Georgia Dome, against the Atlanta Falcons, on November 23.
Preseason
Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 9 at Detroit Lions L 12–13 0–1 Ford Field Recap 2 August 18 at Washington Redskins L 23–24 0–2 FedExField Recap 3 August 23 St. Louis Rams L 14–33 0–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 4 August 28 Chicago Bears W 33–13 1–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule The Browns had no games west of the Mississippi River in 2014, by virtue of their conference rotation with NFC South and AFC South division opponents, and common position Bills and Raiders – the Raiders being based in the Pacific Time Zone but scheduled to play the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Their only game outside of the Eastern Time Zone was in Nashville, Tennessee against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5. Their November 6 game in Week 10 was their only scheduled national television appearance on the NFL Network, against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 7 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 27–30 0–1 Heinz Field Recap 2 September 14 New Orleans Saints W 26–24 1–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 September 21 Baltimore Ravens L 21–23 1–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 4 Bye 5 October 5 at Tennessee Titans W 29–28 2–2 LP Field Recap 6 October 12 Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–10 3–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 7 October 19 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 6–24 3–3 EverBank Field Recap 8 October 26 Oakland Raiders W 23–13 4–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 9 November 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 22–17 5–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 10 at Cincinnati Bengals W 24–3 6–3 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 11 November 16 Houston Texans L 7–23 6–4 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 12 November 23 at Atlanta Falcons W 26–24 7–4 Georgia Dome Recap 13 November 30 at Buffalo Bills L 10–26 7–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 14 December 7 Indianapolis Colts L 24–25 7–6 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 15 December 14 Cincinnati Bengals L 0–30 7–7 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at Carolina Panthers L 13–17 7–8 Bank of America Stadium Recap 17 December 28 at Baltimore Ravens L 10–20 7–9 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers dominated the first half, and the Browns trailed 27–3 at halftime. However, the Browns scored 24 straight points in the second half to tie the game at 27–27. The comeback attempt fell short as Steelers K Shaun Suisham kicked a 41-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. With the loss, the Browns lost their tenth straight season opener, setting an NFL record. It was also their eleventh consecutive road loss to the Steelers.
Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints
This was the Browns' first home opener win since 2004, and also marked Johnny Manziel's NFL debut. Rookie Terrence West, who had more than 2,500 all-purpose yards at Division I (FCS) Towson University, ran for 68 yards and one touchdown. Billy Cundiff hit the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens
For the Browns, this would mark the third straight regular season game that they played in: that would be decided by 3 or fewer points, and that would have a game-winning field goal in the final ten seconds of the fourth quarter. In a tightly contested match, the Browns led 21–17 heading into the fourth. A series of errors (including a missed 50-yard field goal try and a blocked field goal attempt) prevented them from scoring, while the Ravens scored 6 unanswered. Throughout the first three periods, the Browns were 5/7 on third down conversions; they were 0/4 on third down conversions and gained only one first down in the decisive fourth quarter. Ravens K Justin Tucker kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. With the loss, the Browns suffered their first home loss of the season as their record fell to 1–2 entering the bye week. The Browns also fell to 1–12 against the Ravens with Joe Flacco as the QB under center. Victories by the Bengals and the Steelers would leave the Browns in sole possession of last place in the AFC North.
The Browns were the only team in the NFL not to have a turnover in the first three games of the season.
Week 5: at Tennessee Titans