The 1950 season was one of major change for the Browns, with seven rookies on the roster and 12 new players overall. They joined an offense that featured quarterback Otto Graham, fullback Marion Motley and ends Mac Speedie and Dante Lavelli and a defense that featured linebacker Bill Willis and defensive back Warren Lahr. Two of the new players – Ford and Cole – were African-Americans, joining Willis, Motley and Horace Gillom to bring the number of black players on the team to five. With the additions, the Browns employed about a third of all the black players in the NFL at the time.