Referee once robbed Browns of Super Bowl appearance by calling a missed 33-yard field goal “good”

Broncos QB John Elway led a 60-yard drive in overtime and set up kicker Richard Karlis, who scored from 33 yards to rob the Cleveland Browns of a Super Bowl appearance.

Referee once robbed Browns of Super Bowl appearance by calling a missed 33-yard field goal “good”

The Cleveland Browns nearly qualified for their first ever Super Bowl in 1986 (Image of Jimmy Haslam via IMAGO/X)

The 1986 AFC Championship game still haunts the Cleveland Browns old-timers. Their Browns had the golden opportunity to play in their first-ever Super Bowl, but a Rich Karlis field goal squandered their dreams.

After a long time, the Browns landed back-to-back home playoff games. Marty Schottenheimer’s team defeated the New York Jets in the Divisional Playoff game to face off against John Elway’s Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game.

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Bernie Kosar, who was the quarterback for the Browns, gave his team a 20-13 lead after completing a 48-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brian Brennan with just under five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

By all accounts, the Browns looked set to play in their first Super Bowl. However, it was Elway’s turn—he led them 98 yards before setting up WR Mark Jackson for a 5-yard touchdown reception with 37 seconds left in regulation.

It was the first time an AFC Championship required overtime for the outcome. The Browns punted with their try, giving the ball back to the Broncos. Elway led the Broncos 60 yards to set up a field goal for Rich Karlis from 33 yards. Karlis scored the field goal, and the Broncos defeated the Browns in OT.

Did Rich Karlis’ field goal rob the Cleveland Browns of Super Bowl qualification?

Karlis was famous for scoring long-range field goals. He buried two FGs earlier in the game, but the third one was the most important kick of his career.

Referee once robbed Browns of Super Bowl appearance by calling a missed 33-yard field goal good Rich Karlis
Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar (Image via ESPN)

Despite the horrid field conditions, Karlis hit the football cleanly, but it swerved at the last second. The referee stationed under the goalpost called the kick a fair try, spilling water on the dreams of every Browns fan.

However, to this day, Browns fans claim that Karlis missed the field goal because the ball swerved out of the left-hand goalpost. Browns safety Chris Rockins, in a later interview with NFL media, asserted that Karlis didn’t score the field goal and the Browns should have won the game.

The Browns have only ever reached the AFC Championship game once since that fateful day at the old Cleveland Stadium.

Joe Flacco might be the savior the Browns need

2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of Rich Karlis stealing the Super Bowl from under the Browns’ noses. Perhaps they can wash away their recent gloomy history with a solid playoff run in the 2025-26 season.

Only a few days ago, owner Jimmy Haslam signed off on Joe Flacco’s appointment letter. The same Flacco was loitering on his couch for months before receiving the call from the Browns brass to join their ranks as an emergency quarterback in 2023.

Flacco obliged and led the Browns to an 11-6 finish (the first time since Baker Mayfield in 2020). The Browns played against the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. However, rookie CJ Stroud decimated the Browns’ defense, bagging a 14-45 victory for the AFC South club.

Flacco finished the regular season with a 60.3 pass completion rate for 1616 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions.

The Browns are looking to hit those heights once more, and they have spent big in the summer. Haslam and general manager Andrew Berry locked down 2023 Defensive Player of the Year recipient Myles Garrett to a five-year, $200 million contract. Moreover, they hold the second overall pick in the upcoming draft and are favorites to select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

There’s renewed optimism in Cleveland after last season’s debacle at the quarterback position. Aside from Flacco, the Browns have Deshaun Watson who is unlikely to play until December due to injury, and Kenny Pickett, who won Super Bowl LIX last season and will be Flacco’s main challenger for the starting quarterback spot.

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