Former Ravens and Browns Owner Art Modell Dies

Former Ravens and Browns Owner Art Modell Dies
Fitzgerald Cecilio

Baltimore, MD

Former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns majority owner Art Modell will be laid to rest at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.

Modell passed away of natural causes at age 87 at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Fans will have a chance to bid a final farewell to Modell during a silent viewing and tribute that will be held Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Modell's casket will be on the field next to the Vince Lombardi Trophy that the Ravens earned after beating the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.

Instead of flowers, the Modell family is asking that contributions be made to The SEED School at 200 Font Hill Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21223 or www.seedschoolmd.org

In honor of Modell, a moment of silence will be held before each NFL game this weekend.

The Browns will also have an appropriate recognition of Modell during Sunday's pre-game before they take on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Modell purchased the Browns in 1961 for $4 million and turned them into an NFL powerhouse, making it to the playoffs 17 times, winning 11 division titles and the NFL championship in 1964.

Modell then had a legal dispute with the city of Cleveland regarding the team but after extensive talks, the two camps accepted a settlement that would keep the Browns legacy in Cleveland.

In 1996, the NFL announced that the Browns would be deactivated for three years, and that a new stadium would be built for a new Browns team, as either an expansion team or a team moved from another city, that would begin play in 1999.

In turn, Modell was granted a new franchise, the Baltimore Ravens, and he retained the current contracts of players and personnel.

Modell's move, however, made him the most hated man in Cleveland before LeBron James took his place when he dumped the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

He was head of the NFL's Broadcast Committee for 31 years and was a key figure in the launch of "Monday Night Football".

"Art Modell's leadership was an important part of the NFL's success during the league's explosive growth during the 1960s and beyond," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. " As the longtime chairman of the league's Broadcast Committee, Art was a visionary who understood the critical role that mass viewing of NFL games on broadcast television could play in growing the league. Art played important roles in many other league matters as a key advisor to Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue, and also built championship teams in Cleveland and Baltimore.

"His skills as an owner and league contributor were matched only by his great sense of humor. Any conversation with Art included laughs. He always left you with a smile on your face. We extend our condolences to John, David and the rest of the Modell family."

Modell sold the Ravens in 2003 to Steve Bisciotti.

"He was my friend, my mentor. We will miss him so much," Bisciotti said. "How lucky are all of us to have had Art in Baltimore? How fortunate I am to have had him teach me about the NFL. His generosity, his love, his humor, his intelligence, his friendship - we were all blessed by this great man. We will strive to live up to his standard."

Modell is survived by his sons John and David, daughter-in-law Michel, and six grandchildren — Breslin, Arthur, Collier, David, Isabella and Dylan. His wife, Pat, passed away last October at the ae of 80.

"Sadly, I can confirm that my father died peacefully of natural causes at 4 a.m. this morning," David Modell said. "My brother John Modell and I were with him when he finally rejoined the absolute love of his life, my mother Pat Modell, who passed away last October."