CLEVELAND — Browns fans are finally getting a look at the special alternate uniforms the team will wear in honor of its 75th anniversary.
The club officially unveiled the threads Saturday at midnight, with only registered Browns Mobile App users getting an exclusive first look. Posters and trading cards released electronically show stars like Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Jarvis Landry sporting the new attire. It is unknown exactly when they will be worn on the field this upcoming season.
As expected (and as previously indicated in an eBay leak back in March), the uniforms are a modern take on the ones the Browns donned during their inaugural season in 1946. While the all-white ensemble looks familiar, an orange drop shadow surrounds the brown numbers, and a special "1946" patch has been placed on the left chest to commemorate the anniversary.
PHOTOS: Cleveland Browns' 75th anniversary alternate uniforms
The Browns wore the uniforms 10 times (home and away) during that first season, including during the AAFC Championship Game when they beat the New York Yankees (not the baseball team) 14-9 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. They were only worn for that one year, however, as in 1947 the drop shadow was scrapped in favor of the plain brown and white numerals most fans know today.
There is one stark difference from the uniforms of yesteryear: the helmet, which was plain white for most of 1946-51. Due to current NFL rules that won't change until next season, teams must wear their same helmet shells throughout the year, meaning the Browns must stick with their traditional orange.
Rather than go with the modern design, though, the team once again reached back into its past, placing a single white stripe and brown numerals on the orange shell along with a gray face mask. It's the exact motif the squad sported from 1957-59, during the early years of the Jim Brown era.
Through Monday, all registered Browns App users will be able to purchase the uniforms as well as other items from the 75th anniversary "1946" merchandise collection, with the commemorative posters being offered as well. You can download the app and create a user profile using the link in the tweet below.
The jerseys will go on sale to the general public beginning Tuesday at the Browns Pro Shop at FirstEnergy Stadium.
