Frank Ryan, the last quarterback to win an NFL title with the Cleveland Browns, died Monday at the age of 87.
He passed away at a nursing home in Connecticut, where his family said he had battled Alzheimer’s disease.
Ryan threw three touchdowns to Gary Collins in a 27-0 shutout of the Baltimore Colts in the NFL championship game in Cleveland on Dec. 27, 1964.
Jim Brown, who died in May, led the Browns with 117 rushing yards in that game. The Browns have not won a championship since and have never been to a Super Bowl.
Ryan earned three Pro Bowl selections during his seven seasons with the Browns, compiling a 52-22-2 record as a starter from 1962-68.
A Texas native who starred at Rice, Ryan began his career as a fifth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1958. He played his first four seasons with the Rams and his last two with the Washington Redskins (1969-70).
Ryan passed for 16,042 yards with 149 touchdowns and 111 interceptions in 126 games (87 starts).
Following his playing career, Ryan earned a Ph.D. at Rice and later taught mathematics. He worked for 10 years as the athletic director at Yale.
–Field Level Media
