2016 Cleveland Browns

The 2016 Cleveland Browns season was the franchise's 68th season as a professional sports franchise, its 64th as a member of the National Football League and its first under head coach Hue Jackson and de facto general manager Sashi Brown. The Browns failed to improve upon their 3–13 record from their previous season, finishing 1–15, their worst record in franchise history at the time. They started the season 0–14, tied for their worst 14-game start in franchise history, and in so doing, clinched a losing record for a franchise record ninth straight season, failed to make the playoffs for a franchise record 14th straight season, finished in fourth place in the AFC North for the sixth straight season, went 0–6 within the division, failed to win a road game in a season for only the second time in franchise history (first occurred during the 1975 season), and set a franchise record for most consecutive losses, losing 17 straight games going back to their final three games of the previous season. They also extended their road losing streak to 13 games, a streak that began in Week 7 of the 2015 season, when they lost their final five road games. The Browns were also the first team to start 0–14 since the Detroit Lions went winless during 2008, the first team to finish with a 1–15 record since 2009, and only the 10th team in NFL history to finish with 15 losses. The Browns' lone victory was a 20–17 win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 16.

Despite the team's performance, history was made as OT Joe Thomas became one of only five players in the NFL to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons.

Front office changes
On January 3, just hours after the Browns' final game of the 2015 season, the team fired general manager Ray Farmer, who had been the general manager the past two seasons. Team owner Jimmy Haslam also announced that the team's general counsel Sashi Brown would become the team's vice president of football operations.

On January 5, the Browns hired former New York Mets executive Paul DePodesta to be their chief strategy officer. DePodesta brings over 20 years of experience in the Major League Baseball front offices, but has never held an executive position in the NFL before this.

On March 4, the Browns announced the resignation of team president Alec Scheiner, effective March 31.

Coaching changes
On January 3, the Browns fired head coach Mike Pettine. In two seasons with the Browns, Pettine had a record of 10–22, but went just 4–19 after a 6–3 start to the 2014 season.

On January 13, the Browns hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson as head coach. Jackson was the Bengals' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons and was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2011, in which they posted an 8–8 record.

2016 Draft Class
Notes
 * The Browns traded their original 1st round selection (No. 2) to the Philadelphia Eagles for the Eagles' 1st (8), 3rd (77), and 4th (100) round selections, as well as the Eagles' 1st round selection in 2017 and 2nd round selection in 2018.
 * The Browns would then trade the No. 8 and its 6th round (176) selection to the Tennessee Titans for their 1st (15) and 3rd (76) round selections and a 2nd round selection in 2017.


 * The Browns traded their 3rd (No. 77) and 5th (141) round selections to the Carolina Panthers for their 3rd (93), 4th (129), and 5th (168) round selections.
 * The Browns traded their 4th round selection (No. 100) to the Oakland Raiders for their 4th (114) and 5th (154) round selections.
 * The Browns traded their 7th round selection (No. 223) to the Miami Dolphins for their 7th round selection (250) and CB Jamar Taylor.
 * ^As the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Browns experienced during the free agency period, the team received three compensatory selections for the 2016 draft: selection 138 in the fourth round, and selections 172 and 173 in the fifth round. Free agent transactions that occurred after May 12, 2015 did not impact the team's formula for determining compensatory selections for the 2016 draft.

Josh Gordon's reinstatement and rehab
On April 1, wide receiver Josh Gordon applied for reinstatement following an indefinite suspension by the NFL due to repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy, causing him to miss the entire 2015 season. On April 11, it was revealed that Gordon had failed another drug test, and on April 12, the league announced that Gordon's appeal had been denied. He was eligible to reapply on August 1.

On July 25, the NFL announced that Gordon would be reinstated on a conditional basis, and can stay with the team during a four-game ban to begin the season.

Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Staff
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" ! colspan="9" style="background-color: #FF3300; color: #3E220C; text-align: center;"|2016 Cleveland Browns staff
 * style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Front Office
 * Owners – Jimmy and Dee Haslam
 * Chief Strategy Officer – Paul DePodesta
 * Executive Vice President of Football Operations – Sashi Brown
 * Vice President, Player Personnel – Andrew Berry
 * Vice President, Player Personnel – Ken Kovash
 * Vice President, Football Operations – Phil Dangerfield
 * Director of Football Administration – Chris Cooper
 * Director of Research & Strategy – Kevin Meers
 * Director of Player Personnel – Chisolm Opara
 * Director of College Scouting – Bobby Vega
 * Director of Pro Scouting – Dan Saganey
 * Director of Scouting – Mike Cetta
 * Assistant Director of Scouting – Glenn Cook
 * Special Advisor – Jim Brown
 * Special Advisor – Jim Brown

Head Coaches
 * Head Coach – Hue Jackson
 * Associate Head Coach/Quarterbacks – Pep Hamilton

Offensive Coaches
 * Offensive Coordinator - vacant
 * Running Backs/Run Game Coordinator – Kirby Wilson
 * Tight Ends – Greg Seamon
 * Offensive Line – Hal Hunter
 * Assistant Offensive Line – Mark Hutson
 * Senior Offensive Assistant/Wide Receivers – Al Saunders
 * Offensive Quality Control/Assistant Wide Receivers – Bob Saunders
 * Offensive Quality Control/Assistant Running Backs – Rock Cartwright

Defensive Coaches
 * Defensive Coordinator – Ray Horton
 * Defensive Line – Robert Nunn
 * Assistant Defensive Line – Ken Delgado
 * Outside Linebackers – Ryan Slowik
 * Inside Linebackers – Johnny Holland
 * Defensive Backs – Louie Cioffi
 * Assistant Defensive Backs – Cannon Matthews
 * Defensive Quality Control – Eric Sanders

Special Teams Coaches
 * Special Teams Coordinator – Chris Tabor
 * Special Teams Assistant – Shawn Mennenga
 * Special Teams Quality Control – Stan Watson

Strength and Conditioning }}
 * Director, High Performance – Adam Beard
 * Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – Evan Marcus
 * Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – Jason Veltkamp
 * Assistant Strength/Skill Development – Joe Kim
 * Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Derik Keyes
 * Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Art Tolhurst
 * Sports Scientist – Jamey Mroz
 * Strength and Conditioning Intern – Ian Jones