CANTON, Ohio — Three legends in the history of the Cleveland Browns have been named semifinalists to be selected in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2024.
Former owner, and much maligned, Art Modell and former head coach Marty Schottenheimer made the list of 29 semifinalists in the Coach/Contributor category. While former linebacker and fan favorite Clay Matthews Jr. continues his bid for a Hall of Fame induction on the Seniors Committee ballot.
A first-round draft pick in 1978 out of USC, Matthews was a four-time Pro Bowler who was the Browns' official all-time leader with 62 sacks until Myles Garrett dethroned him at the top of the record books (currently 74.5 official sacks). He helped the team make seven playoff appearances and three AFC Championship Games and also spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, finishing his career with 82 1/2 estimated sacks (the NFL did not officially track the statistic until 1982).
Matthews was a semifinalist multiple times on the modern-era ballot before being named a finalist in 2021, his final year of eligibility. He eventually fell short of election, meaning his only remaining avenue to do so will be through the seniors ballot (players whose careers ended at least 25 years ago) in which he has made the group of semifinalists in this years ballot
Art Modell has made it to the finals in the Coaches/Contributors category multiple times, though coming up short each time. Modell's resume and contributions to a rapidly growing NFL during the television boom in the 1970s and 1980s as the league's broadcast chairman from 1962 to 1993 (widely credited for the start of Monday Night Football) suggest a strong argument for his enshrinement.
However the move of the Browns to Baltimore in the mid '90s still lingers over late Modell's ability to be elected by the committee. A sore subject that, nearly 30 year late, has kept his name out of the hall.
The man Art Modell hired to steer the Browns following the Kardiac Kids era into one of the most prolific eras in team history in the mid to late 80s, Marty Schottenheimer joins the group of semifinalists after a coaching career that saw 205 wins across 21 seasons and four teams. Schottenheimer collected 46 wins during his tenure in Cleveland from 1984-88.
Other notable figures in Browns history on the semifinalist ballot
Former Browns President Mike Holmgren is once again a semifinalist for his coaching work. The 75-year-old won 58.8% of his games along with three NFC titles and a Super Bowl while leading the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
His contributions in Cleveland, thankfully for Holmgren, will not be considered as he ended his tenure with a paltry record of just 14-34 from 2010-12 as President. Though he did get one thing right during his time in Cleveland when he infamously told reporters not to ask him for extra playoff tickets during a press conference. There was neither a need, nor an opportunity.
Former Browns and Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall appears on the Seniors Committee ballot once again. Marshall collected 2 1/2 sacks for the Browns in 1960 before being dealt to Minnesota along with fellow D-lineman Paul Dickson. It is still viewed as one of the worst trades in Browns history.
The semifinalists group from each committee will be put to a vote after which 12 names will remain from each group as finalists. Finalists for each group will be announced on July 27.
The Coach/Contributor committee will announce a single winner for final consideration from the final group of 12 after they meet on August 15.
The Seniors committee will meet on August 22 to vote on up to three former players for final consideration.