The Browns on Monday released five-time Pro Bowl WR Jarvis Landry.
Landry never stopped pushing the Browns to be better throughout his time in Cleveland, which came to an end Monday after the team terminated his contract following his fourth season with the Browns. His impact on the franchise has been felt across all areas of the team and cemented him as one of the best Browns players since the team returned to Cleveland in 1999.
"The trade for Jarvis Landry in 2018 was a key moment for our organization," Executive Vice President and GM Andrew Berry said. "Jarvis' on-field production and fiery competitiveness speaks for itself, but his leadership and team-oriented attitude impacted our culture in a way that will last in time even beyond his release. These decisions are always difficult, but we wish Jarvis well and we look forward to the day when he returns as a storied Browns alumnus."
Landry joined the Browns via trade in 2018 and led the team in receptions in each of his four seasons in Cleveland
Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos game on November 4, 2019 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on October 31, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 10-15.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers on December 25, 2021 at Lambeau Field. The Browns lost 22-24.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during a NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on January 10, 2021 at Heinz Field. The Browns won 48-37.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) after a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) after a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys on October 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium. The Browns won 49 - 38.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on October 4, 2019
Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland Browns game on September 22, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado on December 15, 2018.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on January 9, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 21-16.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football on November 28, 2021 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 10-16.
Jarvis Landry Charity Softball Game on June 15, 2019th
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns game on December 22, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 12, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24-22.
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns game on November 24, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on January 9, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 21-16.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on December 9, 2021.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on October 31, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 10-15.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) at the 2021 Jarvis Landry Celebrity Softball Game on June 12, 2021 at Classic Park Stadium.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns on November 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on October 15, 2021.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on September 12, 2021 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 29-33.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during a NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns on November 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
Girls High School Flag Football Jamboree on October 12, 2021.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on September 19, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 31-21.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during the first day of joint practices with the New York Giants on August 19, 2021.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) at the 2021 Jarvis Landry Celebrity Softball Game on June 12, 2021 at Classic Park Stadium.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during the seventh day of training camp on August 4, 2021.
2021 Cleveland Browns Media Day
Travel to Jacksonville on August 13, 2021.
1946 Jersey Reveal Photoshoot
Wide receivers Rashard Higgins (82), Jarvis Landry (80) and Odell Beckham Jr. (13) during the first day of minicamp on June 15, 2021.
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on 11/4/18
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) at the 2021 Jarvis Landry Celebrity Softball Game on June 12, 2021 at Classic Park Stadium.
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins (82), Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80), Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) and Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29, 2020 at TIAA Bank Field. The Browns won 27-25.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) and Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) at the 2021 Jarvis Landry Celebrity Softball Game on June 12, 2021 at Classic Park Stadium.
The first day of the 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland, Ohio on April 29, 2021.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys on October 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium. The Browns won 49 - 38.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on October 29, 2020
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on August 18, 2020
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during a NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns on October 11, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 32-23.
2020 Media Day
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers game on December 1, 2019 at Heinz Field.
Media Days 2019
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) and Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on September 17, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 35-30.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals game on December 29, 2019 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns game on December 22, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns game on November 14, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns game on December 22, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos game on November 4, 2019 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Travel to New England on October 26, 2019
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots game on October 27, 2019 at Gillette Stadium.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during the eleventh day of training camp on August 5, 2019.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens game on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers game on October 7, 2019 at Levi's Stadium.
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) during practice on October 4, 2019
Bud Light Pop Up Store in Ohio City.
The Jarvis Landry Sports Challenge on July 19, 2019
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) and Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) during the eleventh day of training camp on August 5, 2019.
150 youth football player attended Linebacker Christian Kirksey's football camp on June 9, 2019.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns on December 23, 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium on September 20, 2018 on Thursday Night Football
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans on December 2, 2108 at NRG Stadium
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium on September 20, 2018 on Thursday Night Football
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9th, 2018
Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns on December 23, 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium
Landry's contributions to the Browns started before he played a single game in Cleveland.
Landry, a four-year veteran in 2018 when he was traded from Miami to Cleveland, wanted to be one of the guys who turned the Browns into a winner. He was a Pro Bowl wide receiver ready to start another chapter of his career in a new home, but he knew that production from him alone wouldn't be enough to turn the franchise around after a winless season in 2017.
He needed his teammates to follow his lead, and he knew that work had to be done by building trust in the locker room and practice fields. He needed them to believe that change and better results on the field were immediately possible if one overarching trait of the team improved.
Culture.
Almost instantly upon his arrival, Landry helped change it. One of his first moves in doing so was displayed to everyone in August 2018, when HBO's "Hard Knocks" series aired a passionate, emotion-filled speech to the receivers room about not taking days off and grinding through the slog of training camp. The speech has constantly been highlighted as one of the moments the Browns began to change for the better, and it all started because Landry decided to speak up.
"I'm not really much of a talker," Landry told NFL Films after the speech. "When I talk, it takes a lot before it comes out. But at the same time, I try to talk with the best interest of the team, not just myself. Pushing guys, holding the guys accountable and leading by example."
He's 15th in franchise history with 3,560 receiving yards and third — behind Josh Gordon and Hall of Famer Mac Speedie — with 60.3 yards per game among Browns players who played in 40 or more games.
The Browns went 7-8-1 in Landry's first season, a remarkable turnaround after the team won just once in its previous 32 games before his arrival. That season was a statement that Cleveland was ready to compete, and Landry was one of the leaders propelling the charge with his fiery, no-quit style of play. His intensity invigorated his teammates and the Browns fanbase to believe that better seasons were on the horizon — and they were.
The Browns won 32 games in their four years with Landry on the roster, the most they had won in a four-year period since 1986-89, and Landry was one of the biggest producers in nearly all of the biggest wins in that stretch.
He was the leading receiver with eight catches for 103 yards when the Browns snapped a 19-game winless streak in Week 3 of 2018 with a 21-17 win over the Jets. In a dominant 40-25 win over the Ravens in Week 4 of 2019, Landry delivered arguably the best game of his career with eight catches for 167 yards, the most in a game in his career.
When the Browns were a win away against the Steelers from ending their 18-year playoff drought in Week 17 in 2020, Landry scored the Browns' final touchdown of the 24-22 victory on a 3-yard run. A week later, the Browns played a rematch against the Steelers in the Wild Card round, and Landry again was a heavy contributor with 92 receiving yards and one touchdown.
The Browns won, 48-37, in their first playoff win since 1994. Their 11-5 record in 2020 was their best in over two decades, and Landry was undoubtedly one of the biggest playmakers who made the success possible.
The culture change Landry worked endlessly to bring to the Browns had taken shape, too. Players gratified toward his leadership and looked to him during the many ups and downs during every season. When the Browns needed a rallying voice, Landry was there to speak up.
Even though Landry won't be on the roster in 2022, his influence on the Browns will no doubt linger. He was a true leader, a consummate pro and someone who worked to make the franchise better every day.
