2. Browns 13, 49ers 10, Dec. 15, 1962 at San Francisco
Stunningly, this would turn out to be Paul Brown’s final game as Cleveland’s coach. Art Modell, then in his second year as the Browns’ owner, fired the only coach the team had ever had on Jan. 7, 1963.
Paul Brown had guided the Browns to a 47-4-3 regular season record and titles in all four of the AAFC’s seasons. Then, Cleveland went 111-44-5 during 13 NFL regular seasons with Brown at the helm. They played in seven championship games, winning three. But, the Browns hadn’t played in a title game since 1957 and a group of players — including prominent ones such as Jim Brown — told Modell of their growing unhappiness with Paul Brown’s coaching.
Otherwise, this season finale had little lasting meaning. The outcome did allow the Browns to finish with a winning record of 7-6-1, but that was then the second-worst finish in team history.
All of the scoring came in the first half, with Jim Brown plowing through the muddy Kezar Stadium field for touchdown runs of 5 and 12 yards. Brown gained 135 yards on 22 carries. Hampered by a wrist injury for most of the season, Brown finished the campaign with 996 rushing yards. He actually got to 1,002 yards late in the game, but lost six yards the rest of the way. This was the only season in Brown’s 9-year career that he didn’t lead the NFL in rushing yards.
Frank Ryan threw just 10 passes on the rainy Saturday afternoon. He completed five for 82 yards, including three to Jim Brown for 56 yards.
San Francisco closed at 6-8.
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