Two former Browns fan favorite players retire after signing short contracts in Cleveland

"We are thrilled that Rashard and Christian wanted to come back and retire as Cleveland Browns," said JW Johnson. "Both players obviously made an impact on the field, but they each made a lasting impression in the Cleveland community as well. It's a testament to who they are as individuals, and we are honored to have them retire as part of our Browns family."

Kirksey played six seasons for the Browns after being a third-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. In the 73 games he played, Kirksey recorded 463 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. Other than his time with Cleveland, Kirksey spent time with the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers.

Higgins was the security blanket for Baker Mayfield often a few years ago and a player that fans really enjoyed. After being a fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Higgins played six seasons with the Browns and had 1,890 yards and 12 touchdowns in 82 games.

Both players called it a career at a decently young again in football and now will head into new endeavors. For two players that spent the main chunk of their career with the Browns, it made sense to retire with Cleveland.