1971 Cleveland Browns

The 1971 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 22nd season with the National Football League.

After missing the playoffs the previous year, the Browns got off to a good start at 4–1 only to stumble losing 4 straight to fall to 4–5. However, the Browns would rebound to win the final 4 games of the season and a Central Division title. Just as the 1967 Browns returned to the playoffs following a one-year absence, so, too, did the '71 club, which was in its first season under new head coach Nick Skorich after Blanton Collier's final team in 1970 had finished just 7-7, ending a string of three consecutive postseason berths.

As was the case in 1967, the '71 Browns went 9-5 and won a division crown. They captured the AFC Central for the first time, finishing three games in front of the soon-to-emerge Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8). Running back Leroy Kelly was on the downside of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career, but he did still manage to rush for 865 yards and 10 touchdowns -- still good for a 14-game season, Wide receiver Fair Hooker led the team in receptions with 45. In the playoffs the Browns would fall in the first round 20–3 to the Baltimore Colts.