Robert Stanford Brown (December 8, 1941 – June 16, 2023), nicknamed "the Boomer",[1] was an American professional football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 through 1973. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning unanimous All-American honors. Brown was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the second overall pick in the 1964 NFL draft. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, he played for the Eagles from 1964 to 1968, the Los Angeles Rams from 1969 to 1970, and the Oakland Raiders from 1971 to 1973. Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
| No. 76 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 8, 1941 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | June 16, 2023 (aged 81) Oakland, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 280 lb (127 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | East Tech (Cleveland, Ohio) | ||||||||
| College: | Nebraska (1961–1963) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1964 / round: 1 / pick: 2 | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1964 / round: 1 / pick: 4 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Early life and college
editBrown was born on December 8, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, where he later attended East Technical High School.[2]
At the University of Nebraska, Brown was a backup as an offensive lineman and outside linebacker in Bill Jennings' final season as the Cornhuskers' coach in 1961. Brown became a starter in 1962 under coach Bob Devaney. Brown preserved a 36–34 win in the 1962 Gotham Bowl, the program's first bowl win, with an interception in the final minute.[3] As a senior in 1963, he was a unanimous All-American selection at guard, helping Nebraska win their first conference championship since 1940.[4] The Cornhuskers' first Black All-American,[3] Brown was voted the offensive lineman of the year by the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club.[5] He also earned his second consecutive all-conference selection in the Big Eight.[3]
Professional career
editBrown was selected in the first round of the 1964 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles with the second overall pick.[1] The contract he signed with the team had a $100,000 signing bonus.[6] After his rookie season in 1964, Brown was named to the NFL All-Rookie team and earned second-team All-Pro honors.[7] He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1965 and 1966 during his five-season career with the Eagles.[6]
After asking for a trade from the Eagles, Brown was sent to the Los Angeles Rams in a five-player exchange on May 12, 1969. The Eagles traded Brown, along with cornerback Jim Nettles, to the Rams in exchange for offensive tackle Joe Carollo, guard Don Chuy, and defensive back Irv Cross.[6]
Brown was traded by the Rams to the Oakland Raiders, along with two draft picks, in exchange for offensive tackle Harry Schuh and cornerback Kent McCloughan on June 23, 1971.[8] He played three seasons for the Raiders, teaming on the offensive line with fellow future Pro Football Hall of Famers Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, and Jim Otto. During the 1971 season, another eventual Hall of Famer, Ron Mix played his final pro season as Brown's backup at right tackle.[9] Hall of Fame Kansas City Chief middle linebacker Willie Lanier had particular respect for Brown, among all the great offensive lineman that played for the Oakland Raiders.[10]
Brown was named a first-team All-Pro during five of his ten NFL seasons. Named the NFL/NFC offensive lineman of the year three times,[5] Brown was also selected to the Pro Bowl six times: thrice with the Eagles, twice with the Rams, and once with the Raiders.[1][11]
Awards and honors
editIn 1993, Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. A member of the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team,[3] he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.[1] Brown's No. 64 was retired by the University of Nebraska in 2004.[12]
Personal life and death
editBrown was married to Cecelia and had a son, Robert Jr.[2] His son was his presenter at his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.[2]
Brown had a stroke in April 2023. Afterwards, he lived in a rehabilitation center in Oakland, California, where he died on June 16, 2023, at the age of 81.[2][13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Bob 'The Boomer' Brown headed to Canton". NBC Sports. Associated Press. August 4, 2004. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Gabriel, Kerith (June 18, 2023). "Bob Brown, Hall of Famer and former Eagles lineman, dies at 81". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c d McKewon, Sam (June 17, 2023). "Former Nebraska OT Bob Brown, Pro and College Football Hall of Famer, dies at 81". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ "Bob Brown". National Football Foundation. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b "Bob Brown" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. 26 (3). 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Bob Brown Now A Happy Man". The Free Lance-Star. May 13, 1969. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- ^ "Ex-NU All-American Brown Plans To Add Weight". The Lincoln Star. December 17, 1964. p. 49. Retrieved June 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Rams Trade Bob Brown to Oakland". The Palm Beach Post. AP. June 24, 1971. p. C1. Retrieved June 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ellenport, Craig (July 24, 2004). "Unparalleled Line". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ "Behind the Bronze: Willie Lanier | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Bob Brown". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ Kaipust, Rich (July 1, 2009). "Plans announced to celebrate Nebraska's NCAA-record sellout streak when it reaches 300". The Grand Island Independent. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- ^ "Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bob Brown dies at 81". ESPN. June 17, 2023.
- ^ "Bob Brown, Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle, dead at 81". New York Post. June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
External links
edit- Bob Brown at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Bob Brown at the College Football Hall of Fame
- Bob Brown at Professional Football Researchers Association, Coffin Corner Vol. 26(3) (2004)