Q: I have a Cleveland Browns cap. The front of the hat says Browns and has a picture of a little man. Sort of looks like a leprechaun. What is the significance of the little man? Was that once their logo? I’ve never seen a little man on any of their team helmets/hats going back to 1957.
— Thomas Pichl, Matawan, N.J.
A: That little elfin creature is a brownie, a legendary creature from British folklore, and yes, he’s part of Browns folklore as well. Fans who referred to their team as the Brownies led the club to adopt the little fella as an emblem dating back to the dawn of Paul Brown’s franchise in 1946. Former owner Art Modell phased out the brownie emblem during the mid-1960s, but he’s made a bit of a comeback of late, appearing on some of the team’s sideline accessories.
— Rob Doster, Senior Editor
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