Browns: The last sprint to the playoffs gave us “Run, William, Run!”

In 2002 Jim Donovan shouted out the most iconic sound bite of the year as William Green shot past Falcons defenders for a touchdown.

It all came down to the final game in 2002. The Browns were holding onto a slim lead late in the fourth quarter with the Michael Vick-led Falcons knocking at the door. The Browns that year, unlike in the 2020 season, did not control their own destiny. They needed help to get to the playoffs from the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. The Jets were competing for the AFC East title and the Patriots were looking to be a spoiler to the Miami Dolphins who were 9-5 heading into their last two weeks of the season. The Dolphins lost in Week 16 and needed the win against the Patriots to get in.

A Miami win would have seen the Dolphins get into the playoffs, thus eliminating the Browns and a Jets win would see New York win the division, leaving the wild card spot open for the Browns. In order for that impossible series of events to happen, Cleveland still had to win first.

The Browns were down 16-10 in the fourth, with the Falcons holding the Browns at bay. Tim Couch was injured during the game and backup Kelly Holcomb had to now take over the reins. In the red zone, Holcomb found Kevin Johnson open for a 15-yard touchdown, and a gimmie extra point then followed by Phil Dawson.

The Browns found themselves with a one-point lead three-odd minutes later. With the season on the line and many believing, Michael Vick was due for a big play at any moment, the Browns had to put the game to rest.

Cue William Green.

A disappointment all year, Green had not broken a big run off all year to that point. In fact, for a rookie from Boston College, Green was doing very little throughout the season to make fans confident in him. He averaged only 3.7 yards-per-carry while the backup, multi-purpose back Jamel White was clearly the better playmaker.

Green had something to prove, and he did it on that drive. With barely less than four minutes to go, Green erupted right-side off the hip of tackle Ryan Tucker. It was at that moment that Browns’ play-by-play announcer Jim Donovan shouted the now-infamous quote, “Run, William, run!” The call was almost as timeless as the run itself, which sealed the game for the Browns and sent them to the playoffs for the first time since the franchise came back in 1999, and the last time in eight years.

With Cleveland now dancing on the precipice of another playoff birth, will there be another iconic line dropped by anyone on the day? Something to maybe cement the legacy of the moment, good or bad?

We’ll find out in a few hours, won’t we?