Frank Ryan led an upstart Browns team to its only NFL title win in 1964 against heavily-favored Baltimore Colts with three touchdown passes against them, eventually becoming an academic at Rice University and earning his doctorate there.
Teaching at Case Western Reserve and Yale Universities, he is widely recognized for creating an electronic voting system which modernized the House of Representatives. Unfortunately he died on New Year’s Day.
He led the Browns to their last NFL title in 1964
Frank Ryan was quarterback for the Cleveland Browns when they beat Baltimore Colts 27-0 in 1964 NFL Championship Game, marking Cleveland’s last major pro championship victory until LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA crown in 2016.
Ryan had an outstanding 13-year NFL career, throwing for 16,042 yards and 149 touchdowns during 13 years with Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Rams as well as making three Pro Bowl appearances and being selected league’s top quarterback twice (1964 and 1966). Following retirement he taught at Rice University and Case Western Reserve before working with U.S. House of Representatives to establish the first computerized voting system ever used in Congress.
Ryan began his NFL career as Paul Brown’s backup, but when Blanton Collier replaced Brown in 1963 and allowed Ryan considerable input in game planning, Ryan became more influential with regards to game strategy and execution. Ryan enjoyed working alongside an excellent team consisting of Jim Brown as his running back partner as well as wide receivers Gary Collins and Paul Warfield for whom his game plans proved particularly effective.
He was a mathematician
Frank Ryan was not your average NFL quarterback. During his off-seasons, he earned a doctorate in mathematics and taught at Rice University; during his 13-year NFL career he amassed impressive team and individual statistics while furthering his education.
Ryan was well known for his academic endeavors as well as his contributions as a mathematician to Congress, where he introduced computers into House committee proceedings and designed its first electronic voting system. Following his retirement from football in 1970, he returned to Rice to teach mathematics.
Ryan died on January 1, 2024 of complications from Alzheimer’s disease exacerbated by chronic traumatic encephalopathy from his football career. To raise awareness for scientific research into long-term head injuries in sports, his brain was donated to Boston University’s CTE center. Ryan then spent his retirement years in Vermont trying to solve twin prime conjectures proposed by David Hilbert in 1900 – 23 unsolvable mathematical puzzles which remain unanswered since this date.
He was a member of the NFL Hall of Fame
Ryan was an NFL quarterback for 13 seasons and amassed 16,042 yards and 149 touchdown passes, as well as serving as athletic director and professor of mathematics at Yale University for 10 years.
Ryan was a big, durable quarterback with an accurate throwing arm who was an accomplished runner and well-versed in all aspects of game play. He meticulously studied game film while still fitting seamlessly in with his teammates.
At the 1964 NFL championship game against Baltimore Colts, Ryan led his Browns team to its inaugural victory by tossing 25 touchdown passes that season and ranking as one of the league’s leading passers. Ryan was assisted by fullback Jim Brown and wide receivers Gary Collins and Paul Warfield as well as an offensive line featuring Lou Groza and Gene Hickerson (later to be honored as future Hall-of-Famers), although on one final play Colts linebacker Gino Marchetti hit hard on him from behind; ultimately winning 27-0 over them both.
He died at the age of 87
Ryan was a three-time Pro Bowler who led the Cleveland Browns to win their 1964 Championship against Baltimore Colts 27-0 at old Municipal Stadium, featuring Hall-of-Famer Jim Brown as running back and wide receiver Gary Collins (both would become Hall-of-Famers later). Following that season, Ryan went on to play for Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins before eventually retiring post 1970.
Throughout his career, he was widely considered one of the finest quarterbacks in NFL history. In 1964 alone, he led his league with 2,404 yards and 25 touchdowns thrown. Subsequently in 1965 and 1966, he was selected for Pro Bowl selections.
Once retired from football, Ryan pursued academic excellence, earning his Ph.D. at Rice University and teaching at what is now Case Western Reserve University before serving as Yale Athletic Director and pioneer in computer voting systems for Congress. At age 87 he died of Alzheimer’s disease; his brain was later donated to Boston University’s CTE center.
