Frank Ryan, who led Browns to 1964 title, passes away at age 87
Jan. 2—Frank Ryan, who 59 years ago threw three touchdown passes to Gary Collins to lead the Browns to a shocking 27-0 victory over the favored Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL championship game, has died.
Ryan passed away Jan. 1 at age 87. The Browns reported Ryan died at a nursing home in Connecticut. His son, Frank Ryan Jr., told Cleveland.com his father was being treated for Alzheimer's disease.
"Throughout his life, Frank received thousands of autograph requests from fans of all ages and backgrounds from across the country," Frank Ryan Jr. said. "He appreciated his fans enormously. He kept every fan letter he received and fulfilled every autograph request until it became physically unable to do so.
"Frank had a large and loving family and they were with him to the end."
Ryan is remembered by Browns fans for that one championship game. But he was much, much more than a one-game wonder. His accomplishments stretched far beyond football, but football is a good place to start.
Ryan's career began with the Los Angeles Rams in 1958. The Browns acquired him in 1962 to back up Jim Ninowski. Ryan became the starter in late October of '62 when Ninowski suffered a broken collarbone in a game with the Steelers.
Ryan was 52-22-2 with 134 touchdown passes and 88 interceptions in seven seasons with the Browns. Only Brian Sipe (154, 1974-83) threw more touchdown passes in a Browns' uniform.
Ryan played for the Washington Redskins in 1969 and 1970 but appeared in only two games and threw a combined five passes. He was 57-27-3 as a starter in his career.
It is worth noting Ryan was just 3-3-1 as a starter for the Browns in 1962 — Paul Brown's final year as head coach. Ryan's career took off when Blanton Collier was named head coach in 1963. Collier allowed Ryan to have input in game planning.
The New York Times found a quote by Ryan that illustrates how Brown might not have taken full advantage of Ryan's intellect.
"I didn't turn mathematics off during the season, but I tuned it down," Ryan told Sports Illustrated. "I remember Brown saying once, 'Ryan, you sure better sharpen your pencil in football.'"
Now for the other side of Frank Ryan.
Ryan was a professor of mathematics at Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve) during the time he played for the Browns. He taught math at Yale and Rice after his time with Case.
Though Ryan was at the end of his career when he played for the Redskins, his time in the nation's capital was not wasted.
Ryan learned computer programming during his time at Case. He is credited with introducing computers to the U.S. House of Representatives. He worked as the House's Director of Information Systems while creating an electronic voting system and headed a staff of 200 people.
Ryan left his job in Washington in 1977 to become the athletic director at Yale. He held that job for 10 years and also lectured in mathematics.
Ryan and his wife, Joan, lived on 78 forested acres in Grafton, Vermont, until health issues necessitated Frank be moved to a nursing home. The Ryans were wed in 1958 in Frank Ryan's senior year at Rice.
