The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the all-time rivalry 78-40-1 and have won 6 Super Bowls compared to the Browns' zero championships. The Steelers have historically dominated this AFC North matchup with superior playoff success and organizational stability.
Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
The Pittsburgh Steelers have established clear superiority in this franchise rivalry, with 6 Super Bowl championships, a 78-40-1 head-to-head record, and consistent playoff appearances under Mike Tomlin's stable leadership. The Cleveland Browns show recent signs of competitiveness with young QB Deshaun Watson and a 2023 playoff appearance, but remain far behind in historical achievement. Choose the Steelers if valuing proven organizational excellence and championship history; choose the Browns if backing an emerging younger team attempting to break their championship drought.
Compare Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL team based in Cleveland, Ohio; never won Super Bowl; part of AFC North division; only current NFL team to never reach Super Bowl.
AFC North franchise based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with 6 Super Bowl championships and consistent playoff contention.
Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers with 171 attributes.
Average Points Per Game vs This Opponent
Leading Running Back Rushing Yards (2025)
Primary Running Back Rushing Yards (2025)
QB Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio (2024)
All-Time Head-to-Head Record (Since 1996)
Offensive Points Per Game (2023-24 Season)
Conference Championships (pre-Super Bowl era & modern)
2025 Defense Ranking (Yards Allowed/Game)
Head Coach Regular Season Win Percentage
Winning Percentage (last 10 seasons: 2015-2024)
Division Titles (Last 25 Years: 1999-2024)
Regular Season Win Percentage (2020-2026)
Starting Quarterback MVP Awards (Career)
Consecutive Playoff Appearances (2020-2026)
Postseason Win Percentage (Last 25 Years)
2024 Regular Season Points For (Offense)
2024 Regular Season Points Against (Defense)
Consecutive Seasons Without Losing Record
Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers.
Why is the Steelers-Browns rivalry so important in the NFL?
The AFC North rivalry between Pittsburgh and Cleveland represents one of football's most storied matchups, dating back decades. The Steelers' dominance—78-40-1 record—and 6 Super Bowls create intense competition. The rivalry includes iconic players like Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, and recent stars like Ben Roethlisberger facing off against Browns legends Jim Brown and recently, Deshaun Watson. These division games directly impact playoff seeding and carry deep historical weight in steel country.
No, the Cleveland Browns have never won a Super Bowl in their franchise history. They won two NFL Championships before the Super Bowl era (1954, 1955) but have not captured a playoff title since relocating to Cleveland in 1946. The franchise's longest championship drought in the four major American sports leagues—72 years—represents a significant historical disadvantage compared to the Steelers' recent Super Bowl victory in 2005.
Who has the better quarterback right now in 2026?
Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) presents more upside and is in his prime at age 30, signed through 2028 with elite arm talent that led to 4,172 passing yards and 24 TDs in 2023. However, Russell Wilson or his successor with the Steelers offers veteran experience. The Browns' investment in Watson ($230M guaranteed) reflects greater confidence in their QB future, while Pittsburgh's approach suggests transition or uncertainty at the position.
How has coaching stability affected each franchise?
Mike Tomlin's 18 years with Pittsburgh (since 2007) produced zero losing seasons—an unprecedented NFL achievement for active head coaches. This stability translated to 13 playoff appearances and consistent winning culture. Conversely, the Browns rotated through 10 head coaches in 14 years (2008-2022) before stabilizing under Kevin Stefanski (3 years). This coaching carousel hindered player development and organizational culture, directly contributing to the Browns' historical underperformance versus Steelers consistency.
What's the current state of this rivalry heading into 2026?
The Steelers maintain structural advantages through coaching stability and playoff pedigree, but the Browns showed competitiveness with an 11-6 season and playoff appearance in 2023. The 2024 season saw Pittsburgh win both matchups (2-0), but Deshaun Watson's presence gives Cleveland genuine hope to challenge the division for the first time in years. If Watson stays healthy and the Browns' defense anchored by Myles Garrett continues improving, this rivalry could become more competitive than it has been since the 2000s.