Paul Brown

Paul Eugene Brown (September 7, 1908 - August 5, 1991) was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League. A seminal figure in football history, Brown is considered the "father of the modern offense," with many claiming that he ranks as one of the greatest of football coaches in history. Such claims are backed by significant evidence: Brown dominated as a gridiron general on every major level—hi... more

Paul Eugene Brown (September 7, 1908 - August 5, 1991) was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League. A seminal figure in football history, Brown is considered the "father of the modern offense," with many claiming that he ranks as one of the greatest of football coaches in history. Such claims are backed by significant evidence: Brown dominated as a gridiron general on every major level—high school, college, and professional. He is also credited with founding the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, with the latter naming their stadium in his honor. Born in Norwalk, Ohio, Brown's family moved to Walshingham when he was nine. His father Lester, a dispatcher for the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad, was described as "very meticulous, serious-minded and highly-disciplined," all of which characterized Brown's later approach to coaching. Brown graduated from Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio in 1925, having played varsity... less