For Browns offensive lineman and former Maryland Terrapin Michael Dunn, the opportunity to play in the NFL is one that not many get to experience.
He had many doubts and concerns about his future early in his career, but it was also his driving force to keep going.
“There were many times that I was just like, ‘I don’t know how this is going to happen,'” Dunn said on Glenn Clark Radio Sept. 29 when talking about the potential of a long-term NFL career. “But in my head, I was just like, ‘I’m going to keep going.'”
Dunn has bounced around the NFL for seven seasons, but this marks his fourth consecutive campaign with the Browns. He has played in three of the team’s four games in 2023.
Prior to finding a home in Cleveland, he had opportunities with the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins but moved on from each team before ever appearing in a regular-season game. While playing off and on in the NFL, Dunn spent some time playing in the AAF and XFL.
But the Browns have played a vital role in shaping him into a better player. Dunn particularly credits his offensive line coach, Bill Callahan, for furthering his development.
“I owe a lot to the coaching staff here. [Callahan] has done an incredible job,” Dunn said. “I think he’s one of the best in the business and really just being able to learn from him over these years has been great.”
Dunn graduated from the University of Maryland, where he started 48 games from 2013-2016 after joining the program as a walk-on. He started 37 consecutive games for the Terps. Dunn doesn’t forget his time at Maryland, nor does he look at it as merely a small piece of his overall success story. He tries to watch the Terps as often as he can.
Head coach Michael Locksley has made a big difference at Maryland, according to Dunn.
“To have Coach Locks back there is awesome,” Dunn said. “He’s a perfect guy for the Maryland job, and being able to play for him for four years when he was the [offensive coordinator] for us, you know how he is as a coach.”
In terms of how Dunn’s current team is performing, the Browns are tied for second in the AFC North this year with a 2-2 record.
“We feel good. It’s still early in the season,” Dunn said. “It’s been great being a part of the team right now. The AFC North as a whole is just a great division to be a part of.”
However, football is not all that consumes Dunn’s life nowadays. On June 29, he and his wife welcomed their daughter, Madison, into the world. Now, his life off the field is just as hectic and entertaining for him as it is on NFL Sundays.
“It’s the greatest thing ever, being a dad, being able to come home every single day and having [my daughter] there and just playing with her and everything,” Dunn said.
This milestone has allowed Dunn to take a breath and look at his experiences in both football and life in a new light.
“This offseason I was able to take a step back and just process everything that I’ve gone through, throughout this six, seven-year journey of the NFL,” Dunn said.
Through all the years of signings and releases, he hasn’t had that much time to look at all he’s accomplished. With more games coming forward and diapers to change, Dunn may need to change his approach. Instead of a week-by-week schedule, he may need to take things day by day.
Regardless of where things are headed for Dunn and the Cleveland Browns, he considers himself grateful for everything he’s been offered, on the field and off of it.
“I consider myself really fortunate, lucky to be in the position I’m in,” Dunn said.
For more from Dunn, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox