When the NFL dropped its 2025 slate on May 14, the Pittsburgh Steelers braced for another season of “Here we go,” uncertain whether their quarterback carousel would finally settle. But it was the Cleveland Browns—long seen as the league’s quarterback graveyard—who stole the spotlight, and not in the way they intended. In a brazen social-media play, the Browns decided to lampoon their AFC North rivals, only to watch Steelers fans erupt in righteous indignation.
Earlier that afternoon, Cleveland’s X account rolled out a playful thread labeling each of its 2025 opponents with popular memes and GIFs. The cheeky gambit had already earned chuckles: the Ravens were pinned with a sly “Just a reminder” clip, the Bengals got a “pew pew” laser-gun meme, and even the underdog Texans were ridiculed with a dramatic “Not today” gif. It seemed harmless enough—until the Browns turned their attention to Pittsburgh.
In a swipe destined for the headlines, the Browns compared the Steelers’ offense to a flaming dumpster being swept away by torrential waters. The GIF showed a trash bin ablaze, bobbing helplessly downstream, its embers flickering against the raging current—a perfect, if savage, visual metaphor for Pittsburgh’s quarterback woes.
But this was more than just good-natured ribbing: it was an invitation for the Steelers faithful to fire back, and they grabbed their pitchforks with vigor. Comments flooded in: “Look, the Browns are pulling out the trash—literally,” wrote one fan, while another quipped, “Better hope your QB isn’t as combustible as that dumpster.” Memes mocking Cleveland’s litany of quarterback failures—Johnny Manziel, DeShone Kizer, and Baker Mayfield among them—poured in by the dozen.
The biggest irony? The Browns themselves had just handed Deshaun Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract after surrendering a king’s ransom in draft picks to acquire him. That blockbuster deal was meant to signal a new dawn in Cleveland, but instead it stands as Exhibit A in the organization’s storied misfires: Watson has struggled to justify that price tag, plagued by injuries and inconsistent play that have left fans craving a return on investment.
Steelers supporters were quick to highlight this, flooding replies with reminders of Watson’s underwhelming stats and Cleveland’s now-infamous contract commitment. “A flaming dumpster in floodwaters? Sounds like your $230 million man trying to navigate an NFL defense,” one user sneered. “Keep that GIF handy for Week 3 when Watson faces the Browns’ own defense,” added another.
From the Browns’ perspective, the stunt was meant to showcase personality and confidence in a division where trash talk is as much a tradition as hard hits. But in underestimating Pittsburgh’s die-hard fan base—loyal despite recent quarterback trials—they inadvertently reinforced the narrative of their own mismanagement. The backfire was complete when even local Cleveland media began recapping the roast, lamenting that the joke had spotlighted Cleveland’s woes rather than its wit.
As the dust settles, one thing is certain: the Browns may have meant to jolt the AFC North with humor, but instead they’ve reignited the debate over whether any team is more cursed at the quarterback position. And with that $230 million investment looming large, Steelers fans aren’t letting Cleveland forget that sometimes the biggest joke is the one you play on yourself.
