CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns will put an important and beloved member of the organization on the reserve/retired list following Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Swagger, the Browns’ 145-pound bullmastiff mascot, will make his final run through the home team tunnel before the game against the Seahawks, but the tradition will continue and the team is keeping it in the family.
The Browns have selected Swagger’s son, SJ, to carry on the pre-game tradition.
“Swagger has been a huge part of our team since 2014 and our fans absolutely love him,” Carlos Oseguera, the Browns’ senior director of fan experience and special events, told ClevelandBrowns.com.
“Between his event appearances, pre-game duties on Dawg Pound Drive and his running out of the home team tunnel on game days, he’s been the utmost professional through his years of service. We wish Swagger a happy retirement and know that SJ will carry on the family tradition beginning November 10.”
Swagger, who along with SJ, hails from FD Farms in Rootstown, has led the Browns out of the tunnel for home games since 2014, with the lone exception being the 2017 game against the Minnesota Vikings in London.
The Browns had a British bullmastiff lead them out onto the field for that game to keep the tradition going.
SJ is an 11-month old bullmastiff and will begin his duties on Sunday, November 10 when the Browns host the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium. SJ has earned the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen badge and will make pre-game visits to Dawg Pound Drive, just like Swagger did in his career.