Browns coaching staff, players and staff drove or flew roughly 370 miles away from CrossCountry Mortgage Campus to kick off training camp at The Greenbrier, a resort located in the Allegheny Mountains.
So why are the Browns traveling so far for the beginning of training camp?
"This is a beautiful place for us," Head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the first practice of camp. "It's very lucky that we have ownership that lets us come down here and do it first class. They treat us great down here. So, we'll be down here for eight nights, get some really good work in, and then we'll be back up in Berea to see our fans."
This year, only eight of the 32 NFL clubs traveled off-site for training camp. Until last summer, the Browns were among the majority of teams practicing in their home facility.
In 2023, the first portion of Browns training camp was held outside of Ohio at The Greenbrier. After winning 11 games and reaching the postseason – despite losing starting QB Deshaun Watson and four-time Pro Bowl RB Nick Chubb early in the season. The Browns would like to see if they can build off last year's success, starting at The Greenbrier.
"I'm glad we came back here," CB Denzel Ward said. "I feel we really set the foundation with the team last year here. I think it just brings us together and it's just a great opportunity to play football, get away from everybody and just focus on just ball and each other."
Check out photos of the team conducting their first walk-thru at the Greenbrier before Training Camp
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (87) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Defensive tackle Chris Williams (98) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver and Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Director of Strength and Conditioning Larry Jackson during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Greenbrier Branding during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) and Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) and the defensive line during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Tight end Treyton Welch (82) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The team during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
General Manager Andrew Berry during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Greenbrier branding during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the offense during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (87) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Charlie Thomas III (35) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Tight end Treyton Welch (82) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (87) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
General Manager Andrew Berry and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Director of Player Personnel Dan Saganey during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
With four top-tier golf courses, a bowling alley and plenty of beautiful hiking, Browns personnel will have different activities to keep themselves busy in their hard-to-come-by downtime. But make no mistake, Stefanski and his players came to West Virginia to work.
"I told the guys, I know all 32 clubs talk about winning the Super Bowl. Everybody does," Stefanski said. "And that costs nothing. It's very cheap. Talk is cheap. […] We just kind of focus on the work and that's why we're down here. We're here to work."
But what is The Greenbrier?
The Greenbrier, founded in 1778, is a history buff's paradise.
The resort sits on 11,000 acres of land, has seen a total of 28 presidents visit and served as a 2,000-bed hospital for wounded soldiers and airmen during World War II.
In the midst of the Cold War, the U.S. government commissioned an underground facility, known as "Project Greek Island," designed to house and protect members of Congress in case of an emergency.
On the sporting side, The Greenbrier has hosted multiple notable golf tournaments, including the Ryder and Solheim Cups, as well as LIV Golf events.
The Browns are not the first NFL team to take advantage of The Greenbrier's facilities. In 2014, the Saints agreed on a three-year contract to hold their training camp at The Greenbrier. The Texans and Patriots have also held training camps there and, in 2023, the Raiders spent a week at The Greenbrier in the middle of the season instead of traveling back to Nevada before playing against the Bills.
So, as the Browns settle back into the training camp mindset, on land that has seen thousands both relax and get to work, what better place to host training camp than The Greenbrier?
"Usually when teams want to go away for camp, they try to build the comradery of the team, try to just get away from the ordinary from the monotonous everyday practice schedule and environment that we would have when we're in Cleveland," WR Amari Cooper said. "So I do think it's a good thing."
