Couch threw for over 11,000 passing yards and helped the Browns qualify for the postseason in 2002, but his career would ultimately be cut short by injuries. Following attempted comebacks with the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars, he retired after failing to make the final roster for both teams. Although Couch was unable to duplicate his college success, he remains the first quarterback to lead the Browns to the playoffs since their NFL return and only to do so between 2002 and 2019.