For the Cleveland Browns, Week 3 is shaping up to be a big one on the sidelines, and a chance to be an exciting one on the field. Three former Browns will be inducted into the Browns Legends club: WR Brian Brennan, OL Alex Mack, and OL Lou Rymkus. On top of that, Cleveland welcomed back RB Nick Chubb, who signed a one-day contract and will be honored during Sunday’s contest.
Brennan, one of my (Jared) favorite players growing up, spoke with our Barry Shuck in advance of his induction into the Browns
Legends this weekend
Q1: Take us back to the phone call from the Browns about you being inducted into the Browns Legends
A1: I have been working out of my residence lately here in Cleveland. And I was working at my desk when JW Johnson, who is the president of the Haslem sports group, called. I thought we were going to catch up on the assistance he needed with alumni. We never made it that far. He surprised me that I would be inducted into the 2026 class of the legends. I was surprised, overwhelmed, and grateful. And I told him that I loved being a Cleveland Brown. That era in which I played had so much success and great players on the roster. To be included as part of that meant a lot to me.
Q2: Who was the first person you told?
A2: My wife. We’ve been married 42 years. She has been there for all the successes and all the struggles I’ve had as a person, a player, and as post career. Any success I’ve had, she was a part of. As soon as I got the call, I hung up, and I called her.
Q3: Playing in an actual NFL game must’ve been the easy part after practicing against Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon. Every day, how did these two guys impact your growth as a receiver at this level?
A3: We had a really strong receiver group with Webster Slaughter, Clarence Weathers, Reggie Langhorne, and myself. We were a tight-knit group. We had to battle every day against Frank and Hanford. We challenged them as much as they challenged us. I learned a lot about getting off the line of scrimmage, which was so prevalent when I played. Working against those two helped all of us against game opponents. We saw elite defensive back play every day.
Q4: In your entire career, you played with a lot of great quarterbacks, including Boomer Esiason with Cincy and under exceptional coaching. If you could suit up for one more game, pick a quarterback and a coach.
A4: Bernie Kosar and a combination of Marty Schottenheimer and Lindy Infante. Both I loved. Bernie was a student of the game, and he was great with the football; we had great chemistry, we trusted each other, and he was just so smart in the position. He was one of the first pioneers to consistently use audibles that other quarterbacks got a reputation for using, like Peyton Manning. Marty was a great defensive coach, while Infante was an offensive mind like no other that has never gotten the credit he deserves.
Q5: You are not an Ohio native, although you played for both the Browns and later the Bengals. After you hung up your cleats, you decided to stay in the Cleveland area with KeyBank, although they had offices in New York, Connecticut, Alaska, and Colorado. Yet you decided to stay in the Cleveland area. Why?
A5: I had success in culture as a Brown. The culture at KeyBank is very solid. To win in the challenging financial arena is part of that culture. And the headquarters is located in Cleveland. I was happy being in Cleveland, love the area, and thought I knew the people. So I felt comfortable around the character of the people here.
Q6: There were plenty of NFL receivers who were a lot taller than you, had more weight, faster than you, and drafted higher than in Round 4. Are you the poster child for perseverance in pro football?
A6: There are a lot of people who aren’t the prototypical player at their positions. I felt I was always a great athlete and could still play today if I was in shape. I was the 11th or 12th receiver drafted in 1984. Receiver Irving Fryar was the number one overall pick and caught more passes than me, and that was it. I always thought I had the ability, and I’m glad the Browns saw it.
Q7: What does it mean for you to be included in the legends?
A7:The Browns are now putting me in a high place of team achievement. I am grateful and as a player have no choice but to be overwhelmed at how they view my playing career while in Cleveland. To be included as part of this means a lot to me.
