What Is 2017 Cleveland Browns football team

Overview

The 2017 Cleveland Browns season is widely regarded as one of the most disappointing in NFL history. After high expectations following a promising 2016 offseason, the team failed to win a single game, finishing with a 0-16 record—the first such winless season since the 2008 Detroit Lions.

Despite multiple changes in coaching staff and roster turnover, the Browns struggled with quarterback instability, defensive breakdowns, and poor special teams performance. The season became a low point in franchise history, which had already endured decades of losing records and playoff droughts.

• 0-16 record: The Browns became the second team in NFL history to go winless in a 16-game season, joining the 2008 Detroit Lions.
• Head coach Hue Jackson: Jackson was fired after two-plus seasons, finishing with a 1-31 record over his final 32 games with the team.
• Quarterback carousel: The Browns started three different quarterbacks: DeShone Kizer, Kevin Hogan, and rookie Cody Kessler.
• Offensive struggles: Cleveland averaged only 12.3 points per game, ranking 32nd (last) in the league in scoring.
• Draft reward: The winless season earned the Browns the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, which they used to select QB Baker Mayfield.

Performance & Roster

The Browns' 2017 season was defined by inconsistency across all phases of the game. While the defense occasionally showed promise, it was undermined by poor quarterback play and lack of discipline on both sides of the ball.

• DeShone Kizer: Started 15 games, throwing for 2,034 yards, 11 touchdowns, and a league-high 22 interceptions.
• Kevin Hogan: Started one game, completing 59% of passes for 194 yards and one touchdown in a loss to the Chargers.
• Defensive leader Myles Garrett: The first overall 2017 draft pick played only five games due to injury but later became a franchise cornerstone.
• Special teams issues: Kicker Zane Gonzalez missed 12 field goals, including several in the final minutes of close games.
• Close losses: The Browns lost nine games by eight points or fewer, indicating a lack of execution rather than overwhelming talent disparity.
• Turnover problems: The team committed 34 turnovers, the most in the NFL, with 22 coming from Kizer alone.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2017 Browns compared to other historically poor NFL teams:

The 2017 Browns allowed 354 points, second-worst in the league, while scoring just 196. Their point differential of -158 was among the worst in modern NFL history. Compared to the 2008 Lions, they were slightly better defensively but equally inept offensively. The team’s inability to close out close games highlighted deeper issues in coaching and player development.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season had lasting implications for the Browns franchise and the NFL at large. It marked a turning point that led to sweeping front office and coaching changes aimed at rebuilding team culture and competitiveness.

• First overall pick: The winless record gave the Browns the top selection in 2018, which they used to draft Baker Mayfield, a potential franchise QB.
• Front office overhaul: Sashi Brown was fired as GM, and John Dorsey was hired, signaling a new era of personnel management.
• Coaching reset: Hue Jackson’s firing led to Gregg Williams taking over as interim, followed by Freddie Kitchens in 2019.
• Player development focus: The season underscored the need for better QB evaluation and offensive line investment.
• Historical infamy: The 0-16 mark cemented the Browns’ reputation as one of the NFL’s most struggling franchises.
• Future impact: The rebuild initiated after 2017 eventually led to the Browns’ first playoff appearance since 2020.

While painful at the time, the 2017 season served as a catalyst for long-overdue changes in Cleveland’s football operations, setting the stage for future improvement.