Ranking Cleveland’s top 10 sports moments in a year of thrilling highs, excruciating lows

It was a year of thrilling highs and excruciating lows. Welcome to Cleveland. From wild walk-off postseason wins to important contracts, coach hirings and firings and a quarterback injury that dramatically shifted the trajectory of the football team, 2024 was another memorable sports year.

Here is a ranking of the top 10 moments in Cleveland sports this year. But first, the honorable mentions: The Browns beating the Steelers in the Snow Bowl, Jameis Winston setting a franchise record with 497 passing yards in a loss at Denver, the Monsters advancing to the AHL Eastern Conference finals and the Lake County Captains winning the Minor League Baseball Team of the Year award from Baseball America after winning the Midwest League championship.

In his own category is Jim Donovan. Jimmy was a legend and far too precious to be “ranked” on a list of Cleveland sports events. But no list about this year’s biggest moments is complete without recognizing the impact his life and death had on this region. Rest well, friend.

On to the list. I’m sure there will be no debates or disagreements …

10. Women’s Final Four

Cleveland was on display when South Carolina beat Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the women’s national championship game hosted at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The title game averaged about 18.7 million viewers and peaked at a staggering 24 million — the first time the women beat the men in television viewers.

It marked the final collegiate game for Clark and her first visit to Cleveland — but it might not be her last. The Cavs announced in November their intention to bring the WNBA back to Cleveland with an expansion team.

9.  Bieber lost for the year

The Guardians’ season felt doomed even before their home opener when ace Shane Bieber was lost for the year to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Bieber threw 12 shutout innings in his first two starts and struck out 20, but excruciating pain in both starts left him with no choice.

Cleveland’s rotation was decimated with injuries throughout the season, yet the organization kept finding ways to piece five starters together all the way up through the American League Championship Series.

If there was any sort of bright spot to come from this, it’s the fact Bieber re-signed a one-year deal with a player option for 2026. Bieber signing any sort of extension in Cleveland seemed unthinkable at this time last year.

8. Browns lose playoff game

It feels like seven seasons ago at this point, but yes, the Browns played a playoff game in Houston during the calendar year of 2024. Joe Flacco’s pair of pick sixes ended any shot at victory, but it was still a staggering accomplishment to reach the postseason given the fact the Browns needed four quarterbacks to clinch a playoff spot.

(I realize the actual number of starting quarterbacks last year was five, but they had the playoff spot wrapped up by the time Jeff Driskel took meaningless snaps at Cincinnati in the regular-season finale.)

The Browns’ incredible season allowed them to walk away with four major postseason awards: Defensive Player of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. Amazing how fast things can change around here …

Joe Flacco throws a pass during the Browns’ AFC wild-card loss to the Texans in Houston. (Tim Warner / Getty Images)

7. Kevin Stefanski/Stephen Vogt win awards

Stefanski won his second Coach of the Year award in February for navigating the Browns through injuries to an 11-6 finish last year. Vogt was the American League Manager of the Year after guiding the Guardians to a 92-69 record as a rookie manager and an incredible run to the ALCS. Vogt received 27 of a possible 30 first-place votes.

It’s fair to say Vogt would win 27 of 30 votes (or more) in a popularity contest against Stefanski today.

6. Guardians draft Travis Bazzana No. 1

There is a sliding-door effect to this pick that has already had a significant impact on the Guardians’ roster for next season. But just winning the No. 1 pick in MLB’s first draft lottery is historic.

We’ll find out soon enough if Bazzana can play in the majors. Cleveland already cleared a spot for him by trading Andrés Giménez to Toronto and unloading the remaining $97 million owed to him.

Bazzana won’t start the season in Cleveland, but if he gets off to a fast start, a summer promotion is certainly feasible.

5. Cavs advance to conference semis

The Cavs’ opening-round playoff victory against the Orlando Magic was significant simply because it was their first series victory without LeBron James since 1993. Add in Donovan Mitchell’s 50-point effort in a Game 6 loss and the Cavs rallying from 18 down at home to win a decisive Game 7 and it was easily the most entertaining first-round matchup of the playoffs.

It was also a nice parting gift for coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who was fired less than three weeks later.

4. Cavs coaching change

There were whispers about Bickerstaff’s job security even before last season began. By the end of the Cavs’ playoff run, it was clear he was on his way out. Despite all the good he did in pulling the Cavs from the depths of the NBA cellar, players had tuned him out by the end of his time here.

Replacing Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson has delivered a charge into a team that is playing perhaps the best basketball in the league. Evan Mobley is growing into a star, Darius Garland is returning to form and Atkinson is figuring out how to win with two small guards and two bigs. He is an early favorite to join Stefanski and Vogt as Coach of the Year winners.

Bickerstaff, to his credit, is doing in Detroit what he does best. The Pistons won just 14 games last year. Bickerstaff has them at 14 wins going into the new year.

Donovan Mitchell is committed to the Cavaliers through the 2026-27 season with a player option for 2027-28. (David Richard / Imagn Images)

3. Donovan Mitchell re-signs

In any other year, this is probably No. 1 on a top 10 list in Cleveland. It cannot be overstated how critical it was for the Cavs to convince Mitchell to re-sign.

Cleveland has long been a punchline with NBA stars — even James left twice and he’s from here. After all the speculation about where Mitchell might land, agreeing to an extension of any length provided the Cavs the type of stability and leadership they desperately needed.

He is committed to Cleveland through the 2026-27 season with a player option for 2027-28.  Then he celebrated by going tailgating and keg bowling in the Muni Lot before a Browns game.

Donovan Mitchell keg bowling in the Muni Lot.

He’s as Cleveland as it gets pic.twitter.com/qDKip74ENy

— Mikey McNuggets (@MikeLucasTV) September 8, 2024

2. Deshaun Watson injury

This was a struggle to determine which story was more impactful: Mitchell re-signing with the Cavs or Watson tearing his Achilles. Ultimately, I chose Watson’s injury because it immediately changed the Browns’ direction.

Had Mitchell refused the extension and forced the Cavs to trade him, they still would have had a young nucleus of Garland, Mobley and Jarrett Allen around which to build. The moment Watson crumpled to the field, the Browns’ future instantly pivoted.

The Browns will have to find a new quarterback next year while still determining how to account for more than $170 million to Watson on future cap sheets. They seem destined for a rebuild and the Watson deal will be labeled as the worst in NFL history.

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson falls to the ground after tearing his Achilles in October. (Nick Cammett / Getty Images)

1. Guardians advance to ALCS

The Guardians’ incredible playoff run was easily the top moment in Cleveland sports, particularly given the injuries to the pitching staff throughout the year. From David Fry’s pinch-hit home run against the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of the ALDS to his stunning walk-off homer against the Yankees in extra innings of Game 3 of the ALCS, the Guardians’ ride was so enjoyable in part because of all the different contributors.

Jhonkensy Noel’s stunning two-run homer to tie Game 3 of the ALCS when the Guardians were down to their final out, Matthew Boyd arriving in August and allowing one run over 11 2/3 playoff innings, Lane Thomas’ pair of homers against the Tigers … and on and on.

Ultimately, however, it’s 76 years and counting since the Guardians’ last championship. There’s always next year …

(Top photo of David Fry celebrating his 10th-inning home run against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS: Jason Miller /  Getty Images)