Jimmy Haslam III, whose $1.05 billion purchase of the Browns was unanimously approved by NFL owners Tuesday morning, didn’t waste much time in making his first major move. Within a few hours of the approval, Haslam replaced president Mike Holmgren with Joe Banner, according to a sources reporting to ESPN’s Ed Werder. Banner was president of the Eagles and had been with the organization for 18 years before departing in June. Haslam will hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce the Banner move.

The news of Haslam’s approval was met with positive reactions from fans and analysts. ESPN’s Chris Fedor tweeted:

This is an incredibly exciting day to be a Browns fan. Everything starts at the top. Jimmy Haslam gives me hope that I didn't have w/ Lerner—
Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) October 16, 2012

Haslam, a Tennessee billionaire who earned his fortune from Pilot Flying J truck stops, has been a 12.5% minority partner in the Steelers since 2008 but divested that stock to buy the Browns, according to an NFL report. The Browns’ previous owner, Al Lerner, was voted in as owner in September 1998; when he died of a brain tumor in 2002, his son Randy Lerner took over. The team has had only two winning seasons since the Lerner family took over (9-2 in 2002 and 10-6 in 2007), and the franchise’s overall record since 1999 is 69-146 through Sunday’s win against the Bengals. Haslam has said his mission is to bring winning football back to Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner could sell the team very soon. (AFP/Getty Images)

The sale of the Cleveland Browns by current owner Randy Lerner to Tennessee businessman Jimmy Haslam III could be approved in August or September by the beginning of the NFL’s regular season, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Saturday. The Plain Dealer reported that former Eagles President Joe Banner could be part of the group buying the Browns.

Just Friday, Lerner confirmed that he was in talks with Haslam to sell the team his family has owned since 1999, when the Browns started as an expansion franchise after the original franchise moved to Baltimore.

“In connection with current rumors and press inquiries, I can report that I’ve been approached by Mr. Jimmy Haslam, who is interested in making an investment in the Cleveland Browns. We are currently in negotiations and both sides have agreed to keep that dialogue and its details private,” Lerner said in a statement.

“Given that any transaction would require League approval, care has been taken so that this process will not be disruptive to the organization, in particular the football team, as it prepares for the upcoming season. We will share further details or make an announcement if it becomes necessary.”

The Plain Dealer reported that owners could meet to discuss approving the deal by August or September.