Career Summary of Frank Ryan, NFL Quarterback 1958-1970

Go To….
Image Gallery |
Cards |
Career Statistics |
Videos

Dr. Frank Ryan

A 5th-round pick by the Rams in 1958 Frank Ryan almost declined to play professional ball due to his desire to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics. He agreed to play only after he was able to continue his studies at UCLA and the University of California, Berkeley during the season.

His time in Los Angeles was hardly successful as he spent time mostly as a back-up to Billy Wade and then Zeke Bratkowski. He started a total of 11 games, winning 5. Though, the Rams organization wasn’t very successful either at that time.

At the end of 1961 season he threatened to quit if he wasn’t traded. After picking up Roman Gabriel in the 1962 draft, the Rams sent him in a multi-player deal to the Cleveland Browns.

The Head coach of the Browns at that time was Blanton Collier, who reportedly thought Frank Ryan could become one of the NFL’s great quarterbacks. “All he lacks is maturity” Collier is quoted as saying. Ryan got his chance when starter Jim Ninowski went down with a broken collarbone in week 7 against the Steelers. He actually ended up 4th best in the league Rating Wise.

Frank Ryan would remain the Browns quarterback for the next 5 seasons leading the NFL in Touchdown Passes twice and going to 3 Pro Bowls. He would lead Cleveland to an NFL Championship in 1964 and throw 3 touchdown passes in a 27-0 blasting of the Baltimore Colts in the Title Game.

The last 2 years of his 13-year career were spent as a backup in Washington. He retired prior to the 1971 NFL season. His 134 Touchdown Passes as a Brown still rank #3 on the All Time franchise list, his 13,361 rank 5th and his 907 completions are 6th.

Frank Ryan Image Gallery

Frank Ryan spent his first 4 seasons in the NFL with the struggling LA Rams. Here is is in 1961 - his last as a Ram playing against the Giants and that's linebacker Tom Scott with lineman Andy Robustelli closing in.

Browns quarterback Frank Ryan gets this one away as Packers Henry Jordan and Lionel Aldridge come through.

Vikings and Browns - mid 1960s NFL. Frank Ryan dropping back as the play starts. That's Browns Tight End Johnny Brewer at the right. The Viking linebacker in the foreground is Bill Jobko.

Taking a handoff from quarterback Frank Ryan the Great Jim Brown carries into the Packers defense. Browns receiver Gary Collins, #86 can be seen in the back.

Jim Brown in action against the Redskins and that looks like Andy Stynchula making a lunge at him. In 1963 Brown once again was the league's top rusher setting a new record of 1863 yards.

Possibly from the 1965 NFL Championship game between The Packers and Browns. Cleveland Browns quarterback sets up to throw with Jim Brown at his side. With an 11-3 record in 1965, the Browns captured the NFL East Title to meet the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Championship..

Browns quarterback Frank Ryan gets forced out of the pocket by Big Roger Brown of the Rams in this late 1960s NFL action. #65 is Browns lineman John DeMaire and if you look to the left you'll catch Roman Gabriel on the sideline.

Line backer Tommy Nobis of the Falcons gets to Browns quarterback Frank Ryan. Nobis, the 1965 Outland and Maxwell Award winner from Texas was the first player taken in the 1966 College draft by the expansion Atlanta Falcons (he was also chosen by the Oilers of the AFL). He chose the NFL and was a 5-time Pro Bowler and 1 Time All Pro during his 11-NFL career.

Browns and Packers. Hall of Fame Defensive End Willie Davis puts the heat on Cleveland Browns quarterback Fran Ryan. Looks like Leroy Kelley, #44 in the background.

The Giants Dick Lynch holds on to Cleveland runner Jim Brown here in 1963. The Browns would win this one 35-24 as Brown would rush for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lynch did have a 47-yard pick six though. And #13 is Browns QB Frank Ryan.

Browns quarterback Frank Ryan sets up to pass behind the blocking of lineman John Wooten.

Browns quarterback Frank Ryan just gets the pass off underthe rush of Saints lineman Mike Tilleman in 1967

From the 1965 NFL Championship between the Packers and Brown - Ray Nitschke (#66) gets to Browns quarterback Frank Ryan along with fellow Packers Lee Roy Caffey (#60) and Ron Kostelnik (#77). The Packers 23-12 win was their first of 3 straight titles during the 1960s decade.

Big pile-up of Browns and Vikings with Leroy Kelly (#44) & Alan Page (#88) on the top. Browns quarterback Frank Ryan watches from the back and center Fred Hoaglin (#54) is underneath.

Lions Linebacker Joe Schmidt catches Rams quarterback Frank Ryan (#15) from behind as halfback Jon Arnett (#26) can do little more than watch.

Under a heavy Giants rush Browns quarterback Frank Ryan (#13) finds an open Jim Brown (#32) out in the flat. Giants applying the pressure are Dick Modzelewski (#77), Andy Robustelli (#81) and John LoVetere (#76). Browns offensive lineman Frank Morze (#53) offers support.

Frank Ryan Football Cards and Covers

Frank Ryan, Browns quarterback and his 1968 Topps Card. After leading the Browns for 5 seasons, Frank Ryan was benched after a 1-2 start to the year.

Frank Ryan and Leroy Kelly shown on a program from a Cardinals-Browns game in 1968. Fullback Ernie Green can be seen in the right-foreground. The Cardinals won 27-16.

Frank Ryan All Time Career Statistics

Regular Season Passing Totals
Year	Age	Team	Pos	#	Games	Starts	QBrec	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yards	TD	Int	Long	Y/A	Rate	Sacked	Yards Lost	4QC	GWD
1958	22	RAM	QB	15	5	0		5	14	35.7	34	1	3	14	2.4	28.6		24
1959	23	RAM	QB	15	10	3	0-3-0	42	89	47.2	709	2	4	67	8.0	63.4		125
1960	24	RAM	QB	15	11	5	3-1-1	62	128	48.4	816	7	9	61	6.4	57.9	6	73	0	0
1961	25	RAM	QB	15	14	3	2-1-0	72	142	50.7	1115	5	7	96	7.9	68.3	25	204	0	2
1962	26	CLE	QB	13	11	7	3-3-1	112	194	57.7	1541	10	7	65	7.9	85.4	15	156	1	0
1963	27	CLE	QB	13	13	13	10-3-0	135	256	52.7	2026	25	13	83	7.9	90.4	20	179	1	1
1964*	28	CLE♚	QB	13	14	14	10-3-1	174	334	52.1	2404	25♦	19	62	7.2	76.7	27	207	1	0
1965*	29	CLE	QB	13	12	12	10-2-0	119	243	49.0	1751	18	13	80	7.2	75.3	23	202	3	3
1966*	30	CLE	QB	13	14	14	9-5-0	200	382	52.4	2974	29♦	14	54	7.8	88.2	28	223	1	1
1967	31	CLE	QB	13	13	13	9-4-0	136	280	48.6	2026	20	16	49	7.2	72.7	38	318	1	1
1968	32	CLE	QB	13	7	3	1-2-0	31	66	47.0	639	7	6	57	9.7	79.0	10	79	0	1
1969	33	WAS	QB	13	1	0		1	1	100.0	4	0	0	4	4.0	83.3	0	0
1970	34	WAS	QB	13	1	0		1	4	25.0	3	0	0	3	0.8	39.6	4	35
7 seasons Browns					84	76	52-22-2	907	1755	51.7	13361	134	88	83	7.6	81.4	161	1364	8	7
4 seasons Rams					40	11	5-5-1	181	373	48.5	2674	15	23	96	7.2	60.1	31	426	0	2
2 seasons Redskins					2	0		2	5	40.0	7	0	0	4	1.4	47.9	4	35
13 Year NFL Career					126	87	57-27-3	1090	2133	51.1	16042	149	111	96	7.5	77.6	196	1825	8	9

Career Post Season Passing Totals
Year	Age	Team	Games	Starts	QBrec	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yards	TD	Int	Long	Y/A	AY/A	Rate	Sacked	Yards Lost
1964*	28	CLE♚	1	1	1-0	11	18	61.1	206	3	1	51	11.4	12.3	117.1	1	9
1965*	29	CLE	1	1	0-1	8	18	44.4	115	1	2	30	6.4	2.5	44.7	3	18
1967	31	CLE	1	1	0-1	14	30	46.7	194	2	1	75	6.5	6.3	76.2	5	31
1968	32	CLE	2	0	0-0	2	6	33.3	19	0	0	10	3.2	3.2	43.1	1	7
Post Season Totals			5	3	1-2	35	72	48.6	534	6	4	75	7.4	6.6	78.1	10	65