In 66 days the Cleveland Browns will take the field at FirstEnergy Stadium for the opening of the 2017 NFL season.
Sixty-six is also the uniform number of Hall of Fame guard Gene Hickerson, who played for the Browns from 1957 through 1973.
Along the way he blocked for a trio of Hall of Fame running backs – Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly – was an All-NFL selection five times, went to six consecutive Pro Bowls and was a member of Cleveland’s 1964 championship team.
According to his bio on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website:
By the time Hickerson retired following the 1973 season at age of 38, his accomplishments on the football field were unquestioned.