Video Montages Capture December Magic Despite Losses for the Cleveland Browns

December in Cleveland brings frigid temperatures, twinkling downtown lights, and often, disappointing football for the Browns. But in 2025, even as the team’s playoff hopes faded with a 5-8 record, the franchise found a new way to spark joy: short, emotional video montages shared across social media that highlight the “magic” of the season—beyond wins and losses. These 60-90 second clips, posted weekly on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, weave together footage of players visiting children’s hospitals, fans tailgating in snow, and small on-field victories (a perfectly executed trick play, a rookie’s first tackle) set to cozy holiday music. For Browns fans, who’ve grown accustomed to December heartbreak, the montages have become a much-needed reminder of why they love the team—turning frustration into nostalgia and unity. Video Montages Capture December Magic Despite Losses for the Cleveland Browns explores how these videos are crafted, the moments they showcase, and why they’ve resonated so deeply during a tough season.

Video Montages Capture December Magic Despite Losses for the Cleveland Browns begins with the inspiration behind the series: a desire to shift focus from losses to connection. The Browns’ social media team, led by content director Megan Carter, noticed a spike in fan disappointment after a Week 13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Instead of ignoring the frustration, they decided to lean into December’s inherent warmth—creating content that celebrated the team’s role in the community and the small, human moments that often get lost in game recaps. “We wanted to remind fans that football isn’t just about scores,” Carter said. “It’s about the kid who meets Myles Garrett at a toy drive, or the family tailgating in 20-degree weather because they love this team. That’s the magic we wanted to capture.” The first montage, posted Dec. 1, opened with footage of snow falling on FirstEnergy Stadium, cut to players wrapping gifts for the “Browns Holiday Drive,” and ended with a slow-motion clip of rookie Jalen Brown helping an elderly fan stand up after a game. It quickly went viral, earning over 500,000 views and 10,000 shares in 48 hours.

Video Montages Capture December Magic Despite Losses for the Cleveland Browns delves into the specific moments that make the montages so emotional—focusing on player-fan interactions during the holidays. One standout sequence from the Dec. 8 video shows defensive end Alex Wright visiting Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, sitting on a hospital bed reading “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” to a 6-year-old patient named Lila. The clip ends with Lila giving Wright a hand-drawn picture of a football, which he later taped to his locker. Another segment features quarterback Shedeur Sanders at a local food bank, loading bags of groceries into a single mom’s car and pausing to take a photo with her two sons. These moments aren’t staged for the camera; the social media team follows players during their voluntary community visits, capturing unscripted smiles and tears. “That’s the key—authenticity,” said Carter. “Fans can tell when content is forced, but these are real moments of kindness. They remind people that our players care about Cleveland, even when the season isn’t going well.” For fans like Sarah Miller, who lost her job in November, the montages became a bright spot: “Watching Myles Garrett laugh with those kids made me forget about my own stress for a minute. It’s not about winning—it’s about this team being part of our community.”

Video Montages Capture December Magic Despite Losses for the Cleveland Browns examines how the montages highlight on-field resilience, even in defeat—strengthening pride in the Cleveland Browns. Not every clip is off the field; the videos also include small, inspiring plays that get overshadowed by losses. The Dec. 15 montage, for example, features a 30-second segment of undrafted defensive end Isaiah Thomas sacking the Steelers’ quarterback in Week 14—a play that temporarily gave the Browns the lead, even though they lost the game in the final minute. The footage is paired with Thomas’ post-game interview, where he says, “I play for every kid in Cleveland who’s ever been told they’re not good enough.” Another clip shows the entire team huddling together after a Week 12 loss, with Myles Garrett giving a speech that ends with, “We fight for this city—every single week.” These moments reframe losses as opportunities to celebrate effort, not just results. “The montages don’t ignore that we’re losing,” said Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who appeared in a clip helping fans shovel snow outside the stadium. “They just show that there’s more to being a Brown than winning games. It’s about how you fight, and how you treat this city.” For the Cleveland Browns, this focus on resilience has helped maintain fan engagement: even as ticket sales for the final home game dipped slightly, social media interaction (likes, comments, shares) increased by 35% in December, driven by the montages.

Video Montages Capture December Magic Despite Losses for the Cleveland Browns explores how fan submissions shape the montages—turning viewers into contributors and deepening connection to the Cleveland Browns. The social media team put out a call in early December for fans to share their own Browns-themed holiday photos and videos: a family wearing matching Browns ugly sweaters, a group of friends caroling outside the stadium, a kid decorating a Christmas tree with Browns ornaments. Dozens of submissions were featured in the Dec. 22 montage, including a viral clip of 10-year-old Jake Wilson performing a “Browns-themed” tap dance to “Jingle Bells” (complete with a football-shaped top hat). The team even invited Jake to perform the dance at halftime of the Week 17 game, turning a fan moment into a stadium-wide celebration. “Including fan content was a game-changer,” Carter said. “It made the montages feel like a conversation, not just the team talking at fans. People saw their own lives in the videos, and that made the magic real.” For Jake’s mom, Lisa, the experience was unforgettable: “Jake has been a Browns fan since he was 3. To see him on that big screen, and then on the field—he’ll never forget it. That’s the kind of memory that makes you a fan for life.” For the Cleveland Browns, fan submissions turned the montages into a community project—reinforcing that the team’s story is also the fans’ story.

Video Montages Capture December Magic Despite Losses for the Cleveland Browns wraps up with the lasting impact of these videos for the Cleveland Browns, both now and in the future. While the 2025 season will be remembered for losses, the montages have left a different legacy: a reminder that the team’s value extends beyond the gridiron. The videos have been shared by local celebrities, elected officials, and even other NFL teams (the Pittsburgh Steelers’ social media account praised the “heart” of the Browns’ Dec. 15 montage), boosting the franchise’s reputation as a community-focused organization. For the Browns’ front office, the success of the montages has paved the way for similar content in future seasons—even if the team wins. “These videos aren’t a ‘loss season’ band-aid,” said Browns president Paul DePodesta. “They’re a celebration of what makes this team special: our fans, our community, and our resilience. We’ll keep making them because they’re part of who we are.” For fans, the montages have become a new December tradition—something to look forward to, regardless of the score. As Cleveland resident Mike Torres put it: “The Browns might not win every game, but they know how to make us feel like family. That’s the magic these videos capture—and that’s why we’ll always be Dawgs.”