Fans of the Cleveland Browns will soon be greeted by a fresh new face at home games: an angry-looking elf.
After conducting a poll that “generated an overwhelming response from fans,” the Browns opted to place the “running Brownie” logo on the 50-yard line — the team’s first midfield logo since 2016. The team unveiled the new logo at FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday, stirring up some hullabaloo on social media.
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“We’re super excited about the new midfield logo,” JW Johnson, Browns’ executive vice president, proclaimed. “We really wanted to engage our fans in the process, and they are — as I’ve said multiple times — undefeated. They’re the best in the league, best in the NFL and, candidly, some of the best in sports.”
the people have spoken ? pic.twitter.com/TYOBd59So8
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 13, 2022
Some social media users appeared to mimic the energy in the running Brownie’s face, based on their social media commentary.
“That’s a cereal box,” NFL commentator Pat Leonard said.
That’s a cereal box
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) September 13, 2022
“Didn’t have that on my 2022 Bingo card,” Bud Light’s Twitter account chimed in.
Didn’t have that on my 2022 bingo card
— Bud Light (@budlight) September 13, 2022
One user tweeted a GIF highlighting the fact that Brownie the Elf looked angry.
— Emerson Lotzia, Jr. (@EmersonLotzia) September 13, 2022
Other users seized on the commotion to rib the Browns for its quarterback woes.
The team’s quarterback, Deshaun Watson, is serving a suspension for sexual misconduct allegations. He was accused of inappropriately touching women hired as personal trainers and massage therapists and has denied wrongdoing.
“Can the elf play QB?” a Law360 reporter asked.
can the elf play QB?
— James Arkin (@JamesArkin) September 13, 2022
“So let’s check the score here: — Your team name is the Browns — Your primary color is orange — You call yourself ‘The dog pound’ — and now your field logo is an elf like is this cause of drug usage or were y’all dropped as infants,” another user tweeted.
Not everyone was baffled by Brownie the Elf.
“The hate from outside of Cleveland is only because people don’t know the history of what Brownie the Elf means for the #Browns,” Cleveland reporter Tim Bielik said.
The hate from outside of Cleveland is only because people don’t know the history of what Brownie the Elf means for the #Browns. https://t.co/KZvsthFf7W
— Tim Bielik (@timbielik) September 13, 2022
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Brownie the Elf was the original logo for the team in 1946 before it was phased out in the early 1960s, Cleveland.com reported. In recent years, the Browns became associated with an orange helmet logo. Helmets will decorate the end zones in the new design.
“We love the helmet logo, but Brownie has been around for a long time,” Johnson added. “I think people enjoy him, and we haven’t really showcased him as much as we’d like to.”
we would’ve kept it a secret too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids! pic.twitter.com/4YRJ6gTngo
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 13, 2022

