The 2021 Cleveland Browns season was highlighted by a top-ranked defense that finished fifth in the NFL and a dominant rushing attack that led the league in yards per carry. Despite finishing with an 8-9 record, the team featured stellar individual performances, including Myles Garrett setting a franchise record with 16 sacks and Nick Chubb surpassing 1,200 rushing yards. The season also saw the emergence of talented rookies like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Greg Newsome II, who helped anchor a unit that ranked in the top 12 for total, run, and pass defense.