Cleveland Browns Share Tragic Announcement With Fans

The Cleveland Browns are mourning a member of the family.

The team took to social media this week to announce the death of their mascot, a bull mastiff known as SJ. The dog, whose full name was Swagger Jr., was six years old.

“We are sad to announce the passing of our beloved mascot, SJ,” the team shared in a post on X . “We are so grateful for his many years of loyal support and cherish all of the wonderful memories he helped create for fans young and old.”

Swagger Jr. was the son of Swagger, the team's original mascot that retired during the 2019 season and passed away the following year, Cleveland.com reported .

Swagger Jr. was popular with fans, running out of the tunnel ahead of players before games and greeting fans during the game.

The team's tragic announcement brought an outpouring of condolences from fans, with many sharing memories of the Browns mascot.

"Hang the flags at half mast today," one fan replied to the team's post on X. "RIP Swagger Jr he was a 10/10 good boy"

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But the post also brought condemnation from PETA, which released a statement questioning the breeding practices.

"Generations of breeding for a certain look have left bullmastiffs prone to hip dysplasia, cancer, and life-threatening heart issues, among other painful conditions," Tracy Reiman, PETA's executive vice president, told TMZ Sports .