A number of former Browns made the cut as the Pro Football Hall of Fame looks ahead to its class of 2019.
Earnest Byner, Clay Matthews, Eric Metcalf and former coach Marty Schottenheimer were among the 102 modern-era nominees announced Thursday. The class will be whittled down to 25 semifinalists in November and 15 finalists in January before the class is announced shortly before the Super Bowl.
Of the 102, 10 have Browns ties.
Byner played the first five of his 14 NFL seasons with the Browns and returned for the 1994 and 1995 seasons. Paired alongside Kevin Mack, Byner had 2,713 rushing yards and 2,034 receiving yards for the Browns from 1984-88. He finished his career with 8,261 rushing yards, 4,605 receiving yards and 71 touchdowns.
Matthews, the former linebacker who starred for the Browns from 1978 to 1993, has been a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame twice since he became eligible in 2002, the same year he became a Browns Legend. He made the cut to 25 in 2012 and 2016.
Metcalf spent the first six seasons of his NFL career, providing a true dual threat out of the backfield and on special teams. He amassed 2,229 rushing yards, 2,732 receiving yards and a combined 26 touchdowns on offense and had another seven touchdowns on kick and punt returns during that period. He made the Pro Bowl in 1993 and 1994.
Schottenheimer was with the Browns from 1980 to 1988, serving as a defensive coordinator for the first four seasons and the head coach from midway through the 1984 season until the end of his run in Cleveland. He led the Browns to two appearances in the AFC Championship, three AFC Central titles and a 44-27 overall record.
Jeff Garcia was among the five quarterbacks nominated for this year's class. He spent the 2004 season in Cleveland and started 10 games.
Linebacker Willie McGinest finished his 15-year career with the Browns, logging three seasons with the team from 2006-08 and making 38 starts.
Offensive lineman Lomas Brown appeared in 10 games for the 1999 expansion Browns. He logged 18 seasons in the NFL and made seven Pro Bowls.
Linebacker Carl Banks finished his 12-year career in Cleveland, starting 31 games in 1994-95. The majority of his career was spent with the New York Giants.
Former Browns president Mike Holmgren is one of 11 coaches nominated. He was with the Browns from 2010-12.
Defensive lineman Russell Maryland, who logged 10 seasons with three different teams, recently worked with the Browns as a player assistant.
