the last time cleveland browns went to playoffs was 2002.
when was the last time cleveland browns went to playoffs?
2002
after three years of suspension while cleveland stadium was demolished and firstenergy stadium built on its site, the browns started play again in 1999 under new owner al lerner. the browns struggled throughout the 2000s and 2010s, posting a record of 95–224–1 () since their 1999 return. the browns have only posted two winning seasons and one playoff appearance (2002) since returning to the nfl. the team's struggles have been magnified since 2012, when the lerner family sold the team to businessman jimmy haslam. in six seasons under the haslam ownership, the browns went through four head coaches and four general managers, none of whom had found success. in 2016 and 2017 under head coach hue jackson, the browns went 1–31 () (including a winless 0–16 season in 2017), the worst two-year stretch in nfl history, and received the number one overall draft pick in both of those years.
cleveland browns
darden was drafted in the first round (18th overall) in the 1972 nfl draft by the cleveland browns. darden started at strong safety in his rookie season of 1972 and played the remainder of his career at free safety until he retired after his tenth and final season, where he only started 10 games. autry beamon and lawrence johnson filled in for the injured darden in his final season (1981). clinton burrell, who won a starting cornerback position in 1980, only played 2 games in 1981. rookie hanford dixon started at cornerback in place of the injured burrell. after darden's retirement, the browns moved clinton burrell to strong safety and clarence scott to free safety. darden was selected as an all-pro safety in 1976, 1978, and 1979, and went to the pro bowl in 1978. over the course of his career he handled 45 punt returns for 285 return yards. darden holds cleveland browns franchise records with 45 career interceptions, 10 single-season interceptions and 820 interception return yards. two of darden's browns teams went to the playoffs. his rookie year, the 10–4 1972 browns went to the 1972-73 nfl playoffs under head coach nick skorich, but lost in the first round to the miami dolphins 20–14. the 11–5 1980 browns went to the 1980-81 nfl playoffs under head coach sam rutigliano, but lost in the first round to the oakland raiders 14–12.
thom darden