Why the Cleveland Browns Are My Team, Win or Lose: The Fourth Human Need in Action
The 2017 Cleveland Browns will forever be remembered as one of the lowest points in the history of an already long-suffering franchise. A perfect record of imperfection: 0-16. No victories, no glory, and seemingly no hope. And yet, for Browns fans, that season wasn’t just about losses. It was about resilience, connection, and the enduring power of belonging. It was about the fourth human need—not just food, water, and shelter, but each other.
To anyone outside the Browns' fanbase, supporting the team through such a catastrophic season might seem absurd. Why stick with a team that gives you nothing in return? The answer lies deep in the human psyche, in the same instincts that guided our ancestors 200,000 years ago. Back then, survival wasn’t about individual achievement but about the tribe. You lived, thrived, and even suffered together because belonging was life itself. The Browns, for me and countless others, are a modern-day tribe, and the 2017 season tested the depths of that connection.
In those ancient days, rejection from the tribe was tantamount to a death sentence. That sting of rejection still lingers in the human brain, where being cast out of a group can feel as devastating as physical pain. Supporting a team like the 2017 Browns wasn’t about results; it was about refusing to turn away, even when the world told us we should. It was a way of saying, “We’re in this together,” no matter how grim the circumstances.
The Browns of 2017 gave us nothing to celebrate on the field, but they gave us each other. Every Sunday, fans gathered around TVs and tailgates, sharing in a collective groan at another missed opportunity, another turnover, another heartbreaking loss. Those moments created bonds. They reminded us that, like our ancestors around the campfire, it’s the shared experience of struggle that makes us human. Win or lose—or, in this case, just lose—we stayed connected.
Much like our ancestors tracking each other’s gazes around the fire, Browns fans that season relied on each other to make sense of the chaos. The whites of our eyes might have evolved to help us predict social cues, but in 2017, they were mostly used to roll in collective exasperation at another blown play. Even so, there was a strange pride in sticking together through the worst. We weren’t just fans; we were survivors, holding on to the idea that better days would come.
Self-esteem, the evolutionary mechanism that tracks our standing within a group, took a beating during that season. Being a Browns fan in 2017 meant enduring ridicule from other fanbases, the endless jokes, and the constant reminder that your team had become the butt of the NFL. And yet, for those of us who stayed loyal, self-esteem wasn’t about wins—it was about loyalty. In a world where it’s easy to jump ship, staying true to the Browns was an act of defiance, a way of saying, “This is my tribe.”
The 2017 season also reminded us of the paradox of modern life. Social media lit up with memes and jokes about the Browns, connecting fans and detractors alike in a kind of digital campfire. But those connections, though entertaining, were shallow compared to the bonds formed by diehard fans in the stands, in bars, or at home with family. True connection, the kind that fulfills the fourth human need, requires more than likes and retweets—it requires showing up, again and again, even when it hurts.
Without meaningful connection, isolation sets in, and dysfunction follows. For Browns fans, 2017 wasn’t just a test of loyalty; it was a reminder of why we come together in the first place. Every painful loss was a chance to share a knowing look with another fan, to laugh through the tears, and to remind ourselves that being part of something—even something as flawed as the Browns—was better than being alone.
Ultimately, the 2017 Browns season wasn’t about football. It was about resilience. It was about the bonds forged in shared struggle, the pride in showing up for your tribe, and the hope that someday, the effort would pay off. Being a Browns fan that year meant embracing the essence of the fourth human need: each other.
This is why the Cleveland Browns are my team, win or lose. Because even in a season of historic failure, they brought us together. They reminded us that connection is not about perfection but about presence. And no matter how many games we lose, we still belong—to the team, to the city, and to each other.
Recommendations for Further Reading:
"Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging" by Sebastian Junger – Insights into why shared struggle creates deep bonds.
"Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World" by Vivek H. Murthy – A look at the importance of connection, even in difficult times.
"Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect" by Matthew D. Lieberman – A scientific perspective on the human need for belonging.
"Why We Love Sports: A Short History of Fanaticism" by Simon Kuper – An exploration of why sports fandom runs so deep.
"Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home" by Toko-pa Turner – A reflection on the importance of finding and creating your tribe.