The Cleveland Browns will celebrate cherished alumni this weekend, including the induction of LB Dick Ambrose (1975-84) and DB Thom Darden (1972-74, 1976-81) into the Cleveland Browns Legends program on Saturday, as well as a halftime ceremony honoring the two during the team's home opener against the Ravens on Sunday.
Prior to Sunday's game, the Browns will also unveil a statue in Pro Football Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown's likeness, commissioned by Dee and Jimmy Haslam in February to recognize the many on-field accomplishments of one of the most legendary athletes in sports history.
The Browns will induct Ambrose and Darden into the Cleveland Browns Legends program during a dinner ceremony in FirstEnergy Stadium's BMW City Club on Saturday (6-8:30 p.m.), alongside a strong contingent of former Browns coaches, players and staff, prior to the on-field tribute with the Dawg Pound on Sunday.
Ambrose and Darden will be recognized throughout Alumni Weekend (Friday-Sunday), with the events encompassing more than 60 Browns alumni and their families.
To begin the weekend, more than 30 Browns alumni will reunite on Friday morning at Stonewater Golf Club for the Sixth Annual Cleveland Browns Alumni Golf Outing.
The 2016 Cleveland Browns Alumni Weekend is presented by Cooper Tire and in association with Northeast Ohio BMW Centers.
Cleveland Browns Legends Class of 2016
LB Dick Ambrose (1975-84) – A graduate of the University of Virginia, Ambrose was selected in the 12th round (290th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft. He appeared in 116 games at linebacker for the Browns, recording five interceptions and nine fumble recoveries. Ambrose, whose hard-hitting style of play earned him the nickname "Bam Bam," led the team in tackles for five consecutive seasons (1977-81) and was the team's most valuable defensive player in 1977. In 1981, he was honored by his teammates with the "Captain's Award," given to the team member who is "a worker, a team player and an inspiration." He was the Browns' co-captain in 1982 and the NFL Players Association's union representative from 1983-84 and helped propel the Browns to the postseason in 1980 and 1982. Ambrose spent the 1984 season with the Browns on injured reserve. A member of the Cleveland Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association, Ambrose has served as a judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas since 2004.
DB Thom Darden (1972-74, 1976-81) – A native of Sandusky, Ohio, Darden was an All-American defensive back at Michigan. He was selected No. 18 overall in the 1972 NFL Draft by the Browns and played in 128 games, collecting a franchise-record 45 interceptions for 820 yards and two touchdowns while registering nine fumble recoveries. During his career, he also returned 45 punts for 285 yards. He also helped Cleveland reach the postseason in 1972 and earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 1978 after posting a career-high 10 interceptions, tied for the most by a Browns player in one season.
Cleveland Browns Legends:
Class of 2001* Gene Hickerson, Bernie Kosar, Michael Dean Perry, Greg Pruitt, Ray Renfro
Class of 2002 Clay Matthews, Brian Sipe, Mac Speedie
Class of 2003 Hanford Dixon, Bob Gain, Dick Schafrath
Class of 2004 Gary Collins, Mike Pruitt, Tommy James, Dub Jones
Class of 2005 Frank Minnifield, Frank Ryan, Jerry Sherk, Jim Ray Smith
Class of 2006 Earnest Byner, Doug Dieken, Jim Houston, Walt Michaels
Class of 2007 Don Cockroft, Horace Gillom, Bill Glass, Kevin Mack
Class of 2008 Walter Johnson, Warren Lahr, Eric Metcalf, Paul Wiggin
Class of 2010 Cody Risien, John Wooten
Class of 2011 Vince Costello, Tom DeLeone
Class of 2012 Ernie Green, Clarence Scott
Class of 2013 Galen Fiss, Abe Gibron
Class of 2014 Robert E. Jackson, Milt Morin
Class of 2015 Don Colo, Bob Golic
Class of 2016 Dick Ambrose, Thom Darden
- Browns Pro Football Hall of Famers were automatically inducted in 2001
Alumni Weekend schedule:
Sixth Annual Cleveland Browns Alumni Golf Outing
Friday
Stonewater Golf Club
1 Club Drive
Highland Heights, OH 44143
Cleveland Browns Legends Dinner
Saturday (6-8:30 p.m.)
BMW City Club
FirstEnergy Stadium
100 Alfred Lerner Way
Cleveland, OH 44114
Cleveland Browns Legends Induction Recognition
Browns-Ravens halftime (1 p.m. kickoff)
On-field presentation of 2016 Browns Legends inductees LB Dick Ambrose and DB Thom Darden
FirstEnergy Stadium
100 Alfred Lerner Way
Cleveland, OH 44114
