Paul's Browns

Paul Brown's journey to build a professional football team from the ashes of World War II to the decade of dominance that followed. Paul’s Browns—artifacts, archives, and photographs representing Paul Brown's journey to build a professional football team from the ashes of World War II to the decade of dominance that followed—will be exhibited in the Paul Brown Museum within the Massillon Museum from August 1, 2026 through July 11, 2027.

Among the objects guests will see are: Paul Brown's Navy jacket; Marion Motley’s college jersey; original sheet music from Cleveland’s pre-game and halftime entertainers, the Musical Majorettes; and trophies presented to Brown and his players. Guests will learn about the innovations Brown brought to the sport.

Brown left Massillon following the 1940 Tiger football season for his dream job, head coach at The Ohio State University. For three years, he successfully led the Buckeyes before World War II began to impact athletics throughout the nation.

To avoid the unknown while still serving his country, Brown took a position in the athletic department at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois. Along with Brown, twenty-two of the thirty-seven players who landed on the Cleveland Browns roster in 1946 served their nation during World War II.

After the war, Coach Brown was recruited for the new All-American Football Conference (AAFC), which was established to compete with the National Football League. Coach Brown and his team earned the AAFC championship each year from 1946 through 1949, before the leagues merged.

For the next five seasons, the Cleveland Browns appeared in every NFL championship game, winning three titles. During that time, Brown hired his former colleague, Massillon Tiger Swing Band director George "Red" Bird, to be the team’s entertainment director. Bird established the Musical Majorettes, an all-female marching band that performed pre-game and halftime shows. Cleveland’s dynasty ended with the 1956 season; Paul Brown remained with the team until 1962.

Also in the Paul Brown Museum, visitors can see a 30-foot-long timeline of Paul Brown’s career, paralleling a timeline of Massillon Tiger football history. The exhibition, The First: A State Title for Massillon Basketball, recognizes the Massillon Tiger boys' basketball team’s 2026 Division II state championship. It includes programs, photographs, clothing, a ball, and a net.