The city of Cleveland represents the spirit of football in America and, since 1946, the Cleveland Browns organization has drawn strength from its hometown’s hardworking ethos. To honor the city and team history, the Browns’ iconic uniform has always embodied a simple, workmanlike appearance with an immediately recognizable orange and brown color palette. This aesthetic holds an emotional power well beyond the colors, numbers and iconic stripes.
The Cleveland Browns, together with the NFL and Nike, extend this legacy with a new NFL Nike Elite 51 uniform design that respects the past and embraces the future by paying tribute to the city and the fans. The uniform incorporates a modern, 21st century Cleveland-centric design inspired by the Dawg Pound, a group that consists of some of the team’s most enthusiastic fans, and influenced by the evolution of the city itself.
The Browns’ new uniform aesthetic enhances the team’s unique hallmarks, including color, font and stripe pattern. This modernized uniform design draws influence from Cleveland’s architectural evolution. The look captures the city’s industrial strength and celebrates its continued innovation through a bold increase in the size and scale of the uniform design elements.
Nine different color combinations are possible within the Browns’ integrated NFL Nike Elite 51 uniform system, which includes a new “third” jersey concept. In addition to the traditional brown and white, the primary orange color is enhanced with a more vibrant, modern hue. An increase in the size and scale of the jersey numbers, punctuated by a hefty drop shadow, adds dimension and strength to the team’s existing font.
Key uniform design details include contrast stitching, Nike Chainmaille number application and oversized team branding. The use of contrast stitching is a first for any NFL team, and has been incorporated into the uniform to honor the working-class origins and industrial roots of the city. The oversized Nike Chainmaille numbers represent Cleveland pride and are also a NFL first as the Browns’ uniform presents the league’s largest wordmarks — specifically “CLEVELAND” at the front of the jersey and “BROWNS” on the side of the pant.
The larger uniform stripes extend the Browns’ original pattern into a consistent element through the jersey, pants and helmet to represent team solidarity. The horizontal sleeve stripe on the jersey now crosses over to the chest panel — a subtle, yet notable evolution of the design. The Browns’ bold orange helmets also advance the new stripe pattern further with a distinct carbon fiber texture and a new brown facemask.
The larger uniform stripes extend the Browns’ original pattern into a consistent element through the jersey, pants and helmet to represent team solidarity. The horizontal sleeve stripe on the jersey now crosses over to the chest panel — a subtle, yet notable evolution of the design. The Browns’ bold orange helmets also advance the new stripe pattern further with a distinct carbon fiber texture and a new brown facemask.
Within the back neckline of the jersey, the phrase “DAWG POUND” provides a tribute to the Browns’ loyal and energetic fans, and a source of inspiration as the team takes the field.
