Frank Ryan, Last Cleveland Browns Championship-Winning Quarterback, Passes Away at 87

Frank Ryan, who was the last quarterback to lead the Cleveland Browns to an NFL championship, passed away on Monday at the age of 87. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and had been battling Alzheimer’s disease, with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) suspected to have played a role in the progression of the disease. Ryan's brain was donated to Boston University’s CTE Center for study. Born in 1936, Ryan was a standout quarterback at Rice University before turning pro. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1958 draft and played four years with the Rams before joining the Browns. In Cleveland, Ryan had his most successful years, earning three Pro Bowl nods and finishing as a runner-up for the United Press International NFL MVP in 1965. He led the Browns to their fourth NFL Championship in 1964, throwing for 25 touchdowns and 2,404 passing yards. Ryan continued his strong performance in the following years, throwing for 18 touchdowns in 1965 and 29 touchdowns in 1966. After his football career, Ryan pursued an academic path, obtaining his Ph.D. from Rice University and going on to teach math at various universities. He was also involved in creating an electronic voting system for the U.S. House of Representatives.