Longtime Browns linebacker Vince Costello passed away Saturday, his family announced. He was 86.
A native of Dellroy, Ohio, Costello grew up in Magnolia and starred at quarterback for Magnolia High School's six-man team. After high school, Costello played baseball and football at Ohio University for four years and pursued a professional baseball career before landing with the Browns at the age of 25 in 1957. He played linebacker for the Browns for 10 seasons, appearing in 130 games and recording 18 interceptions, recovering eight fumbles and scoring two defensive touchdowns.
Costello was a part of the Browns' last championship team in 1964. He finished his career in New York, playing two seasons for the Giants before retiring after the 1968 season.
Costello later served as linebackers coach under his former coach Paul Brown in Cincinnati from 1969-1973, then moved on to a defensive coordinator role with the Miami Dolphins under Don Shula in 1974 and held the same position under former Browns teammate Paul Wiggin in Kansas City in 1975 and 1976.
Costello was part of the inaugural Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame class in 2002, and was inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends Program in 2011.
Visitation will be held June 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Porter Funeral Homes in Lenexa, Kansas. Click here for more information on his funeral services.
