 Plagued by hearing problems , the 64 @-@ year @-@ old coach announced his retirement before the end of the 1970 season , which the Browns finished with a 7 – 7 record . Collier told Modell that he could no longer hear his players , and it was difficult to read their lips through new face masks that obscured their mouths . Modell tried to help by getting Collier to try new hearing aids and even sent him for acupuncture treatment , but none of it worked . Collier struggled during press conferences because he often could not hear what reporters were asking and answered the wrong questions . In eight years as coach , Collier led Cleveland to a championship and a 76 – 34 – 2 record . Nick Skorich , who came to the Browns as offensive coordinator in 1964 , was named as his replacement in 1971 . 
