He joined the U.S. military in 1942 during World War II, and upon his discharge was signed by the Browns, then a team under formation in the new AAFC.

Terrell returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown in the Browns' first game, a team record that stood for 14 years.

The Browns went on to win the first AAFC championship, but Terrell was sent to the Colts after the season as part of a league-led effort to distribute talent more evenly among its teams.

[5] Terrell was one of several Browns players sent to the struggling Baltimore Colts after the season in an attempt to balance talent among the AAFC's teams.

[6] He was cut by the Colts in the middle of the 1947 season, however, and tried to regain his position on the Browns' roster after several of the team's halfbacks suffered injuries.