The Cleveland Browns clinched their first playoff berth since 2002 with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and in so doing honored a lifelong dream of a superfan and cancer patient.
Cleveland started a fundraiser to get Tom Seipel to the team's playoff-clinching game. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield sent Seipel a video beforehand, and Mayfield's wife, Emily, arranged for Seipel to be in the family's suite and meet Baker after the game.
The video of Mayfield and Seipel meeting after the game made the rounds on social media in what was a heartwarming and fulfilling moment (via SportsCenter).
Browns fans started a fundraiser for Tom Seipel, a fan battling cancer, to get him to the Browns' playoff-clinching game.
Baker Mayfield heard the story and sent Tom a video. Baker’s wife arranged to get Tom in their suite and to meet Baker afterwards 👏 (via @angrybrownsfans) pic.twitter.com/Sftr4DnFgR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 5, 2021
For Seipel to be on hand for the team's victory surely made things sweet, but the hospitality of Mayfield, Emily and the whole team put an extra stamp on the occasion.
Can the Browns provide Seipel with even more thrills going forward? That could prove immensely challenging.
Cleveland is still having a lot of issues with COVID-19, having shut down the team facility ahead of a Wild Card rematch with the Steelers this Sunday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski will not be able to carry out his duties as a result of the outbreak.
Still, this has been a wild season for Browns fans from start to finish. While the Week 17 win came over a Steelers team mostly playing their reserve guys, anything is possible in the playoffs.
Cleveland will have its work cut out, though another heavy dose of Nick Chubb and a punishing run game could be the solution.
In any event, the Browns thrilled an endless number of fans merely just by getting to this point, including and especially Seipel.
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