Former Browns & Ravens owner Art Modell passed away

Art Modell, former owner of the Cleveland Browns and then the Ravens when he moved the team to Baltimore has passed away at the age of 87.  His son, former Ravens President David Modell, confirmed his father’s death via release:

“Sadly, I can confirm that my father died peacefully of natural causes at four this morning,” David Modell said. “My brother, John Modell, and I were with him when he finally rejoined the absolute love of his life, my mother Pat Modell, who passed away last October.”

Modell bought the Browns for $4 million in 1961 and was the owner for 35 years.  Modell ran into financial issues in 1999 which resulted in him selling a minority share of the team to Steve Bisciotti in 1999. By 2004 Bisciotti had taken the team over completely.