Paul Brown was born on September 7,1909 in the small town of Norwalk, Ohio.  He would become known as the great innovator of football.  Brown though small played Quarterback at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  He was known to be a very good passer and a great runner for Miami’s football team.  It is there that he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in education in 1930.  From 1932 to 1940 he was the head coach of his high-school alma mater at Massillon, Ohio.  It was here that he coached Massillon to several state championships and an 80–8–2 record.

Brown went on to become the Ohio State University football Coach from 1941 to 1943.  Paul Brown’s record at Ohio State was 18-8-1.  He won the National Collegiate Championship in 1942.  From here, Paul Brown went on to Coach the Cleveland Browns.  He was the Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1946 until 1962.  During that time he had an impressive .759 winning average.  He led the Browns to seven championships.  Four of the championships were in the All American Football Conference.  

Paul Brown know as the "father of the modern offense" was also well known for a wide variety of improvements to the game of football.   Brown invented the face mask.  Paul Brown developed one of the most in depth and extensive player recruiting programs that had been developed up until that time in the pro football league.  Brown ignored the gentleman’s agreement not to recruit or have African-American players in the league, and he brought on many African-American players to play for the Browns. Brown had success at every level in football (high school, college, and professional).  He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.  The Sporting News has named him to the 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time list.

Despite his legacy and success in Cleveland, Paul Brown was fired by Cleveland Owner Art Modell on January 9, 1963.  Modell the majority owner of the Browns had purchased the club in 1961. Brown never forgot what Modell had done to him. 

Paul Brown was a football man.  He was a football innovator, and he was a football legend before he ever considered becoming the Owner of the Cincinnati Bengals.  On September 26th, 1967 Paul Brown became the Principal Owner and Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bengals Franchise.  Paul Brown chose to name the team the Bengals due to the fact that the city of Cincinnati once had a pro football team named the Cincinnati Bengals back in the late thirties and early forties.  Paul Brown felt that using the name “would provide a link with past professional football in Cincinnati."  Brown went on to lead the Bengals to the playoffs three times.  He stepped down as Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bengals on January 1st, 1976.  Brown continued to have major input into the team and stayed on to run the Bengals almost up to his death. 

Paul Brown passed away in Cincinnati on August 5th, 1991.  He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetary in Massillon, Ohio.  Paul Brown’s legacy will live on forever in the National Football League and in Cincinnati the home of the Bengals!