2002 Cleveland Browns season

The 2002 season was the Cleveland Browns' 54th as a professional sports franchise, their 50th as a member of the National Football League, and the second season under head coach Butch Davis.

2002 Cleveland Browns season
OwnerAlfred Lerner (Until October 2, 2002)
Randolph Lerner (Took position October 2, 2002)
Head coachButch Davis
Home fieldCleveland Browns Stadium
Local radioWTAM · WMMS
Results
Record9–7
Division place2nd AFC North
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(at Steelers) 33–36
Pro Bowlersnone

In their opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, linebacker Dwayne Rudd cost the Browns a victory when he threw his helmet in celebration unaware the play was still going on, incurring an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Because the clock expired during the play the Browns' unsportsmanlike conduct occurred on, per NFL rules, the Chiefs were given one untimed down. Chiefs' kicker Morten Andersen made the 30-yard field goal to win the game.

The Browns made their first playoff appearance since their re-activation. It was only the Browns' fourth year since returning to the league effectively as an expansion team, and their first winning season. The Browns faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild card round at Heinz Field. Despite a strong start with a 24–7 lead by the end of the third quarter, the Steelers would ultimately bounce back erasing a 17 point deficit, causing the Browns to lose 33–36. The Browns would not make the NFL playoffs again until 2020. The Browns owner Al Lerner stepped down on October 2 and died on October 23, 2002, from brain cancer. His son, Randy Lerner took over the team until 2012. The Browns wore a patch with the initials "AL" for the remainder of the season and became a fixture on their uniforms to commemorate Lerner.

Offseason
AdditionsSubtractions
T Ryan Tucker (Rams)LB Wali Rainer (Jaguars)
FS Robert Griffith (Vikings)T Roman Oben (Buccaneers)
LB Earl Holmes (Steelers)DE Greg Spires (Buccaneers)
DE Kenard Lang (Redskins)DE Keith McKenzie (Bears)

2002 NFL Draft
2002 Cleveland Browns Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
1 16 William Green Running back Boston College
2 47 André Davis Wide receiver Virginia Tech
3 76 Melvin Fowler Offensive lineman Maryland
4 101 Kevin Bentley Linebacker Northwestern
4 111 Ben Taylor Linebacker Virginia Tech
4 122 Darnell Sanders Tight end Ohio State
5 141 Andra Davis Linebacker Florida
7 227 Joaquin Gonzalez Offensive lineman Miami

Undrafted free agents
2002 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Frisman Jackson Wide receiver Western Illinois
Kalvin Pearson Safety Grambling State

Personnel
2002 Cleveland Browns staff
Front office
  • Owner and chairman – Randy Lerner
  • President and chief executive officer – Carmen Policy
  • Director of Football Development – Pete Garcia
  • Pro Personnel Coordinator - Jeremy Green
  • Pro Personnel Coordinator - Steve Sabo
  • Director of college personnel – Phil Neri

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Tim Jorgensen
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Rob Phillips

Roster
2002 Cleveland Browns final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 18 Dimitrius Breedlove WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 92 Courtney Brown DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 74 Felipe Claybrooks DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 49 Chris Eitzmann TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 28 J. J. Johnson RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 71 MIchael Josiah DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 40 Ben Miller RB/Military Reserve
  • 95 Jamir Miller LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 61 Qasim Mitchell G/T (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 48 Rod Monroe TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 38 Earthwind Moreland CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 98 Thomas Pittman DT (NF-Inj.Tooltip Non-football injury and illness)
  • 80 Aaron Shea TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 58 Ben Taylor LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 52 active, 14 inactive, 5 practice squad

[1]

Regular season

Schedule

Apart from their AFC North division games, the Browns played against the AFC South and NFC South according to the NFL's new conference rotation, and played the Chiefs and Jets based on 2001 standings with respect to the newly aligned divisions.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1September 8Kansas City ChiefsL 39–400–1Cleveland Browns Stadium72,938
2September 15Cincinnati BengalsW 20–71–1Cleveland Browns Stadium73,358
3September 22at Tennessee TitansW 31–28 (OT)2–1Adelphia Coliseum68,804
4September 29at Pittsburgh SteelersL 13–16 (OT)2–2Heinz Field62,864
5October 6Baltimore RavensL 21–262–3Cleveland Browns Stadium73,688
6October 13at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 3–172–4Raymond James Stadium65,625
7October 20Houston TexansW 34–173–4Cleveland Browns Stadium73,248
8October 27at New York JetsW 24–214–4Giants Stadium78,502
9November 3Pittsburgh SteelersL 20–234–5Cleveland Browns Stadium73,718
10Bye
11November 17at Cincinnati BengalsW 27–205–5Paul Brown Stadium64,060
12November 24at New Orleans SaintsW 24–156–5Louisiana Superdome68,295
13December 1Carolina PanthersL 6–136–6Cleveland Browns Stadium72,718
14December 8at Jacksonville JaguarsW 21–207–6Alltel Stadium46,267
15December 15Indianapolis ColtsL 23–287–7Cleveland Browns Stadium73,098
16December 22at Baltimore RavensW 14–138–7M&T Bank Stadium68,348
17December 29Atlanta FalconsW 24–169–7Cleveland Browns Stadium73,528

Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 7 32340
Browns 6 14 71239

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

Week 8: at New York Jets
Week 8: Cleveland Browns at New York Jets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 3 3 15324
Jets 14 7 0021

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Standings
AFC North
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Pittsburgh Steelers 10 5 1 .656 6–0 8–4 390 345 W3
(6) Cleveland Browns 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 344 320 W2
Baltimore Ravens 7 9 0 .438 3–3 7–5 316 354 L2
Cincinnati Bengals 2 14 0 .125 0–6 1–11 279 456 L1

Postseason
See also: 2002–03 NFL playoffs
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
AFC Wild Card January 5, 2003 at Pittsburgh Steelers (3) L 33–36 0–1 Heinz Field 62,595 Recap

Game summaries
AFC Wild Card: (#6) Cleveland Browns at (#3) Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 7 10 7933
Steelers 0 7 72236

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh

Game information

References
  1. Cleveland Browns 2002 Roster accessed November 28, 2018.
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