Roger Brown (football player)

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Roger Brown
Date of birth: 1 May 1937 (1937-05-01) (age 71)
Place of birth: Surry County, Virginia
Career information
Position(s): DT
College: Maryland Eastern Shore
NFL Draft: 1960 / Round: 1 / Pick 4
Organizations
 As player:
1960-1966
1967-1969
Detroit Lions
Los Angeles Rams
Career highlights and Awards
Pro Bowls: 6

Roger Lee Brown (born 1 May 1937 in Surry County, Virginia) is a former American football defensive tackle who retired after the 1969 NFL season.

Contents

[edit] Football career

Brown was drafted 4th in the 1960 NFL Draft out of Maryland Eastern Shore by the Detroit Lions. Played in the College All-star game in Chicago vs the Baltimore Colts. Played with the original fearsome foursome, with Alex Karras, Sam Williams and Darris McCord, He was named the 1962 Outstanding Defensive Lineman in the league, and set a record by sacking both Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas for safeties in one season, an NFL record. He played for the Lions through the 1966 season, then was traded to the Los Angeles Rams.

During his stint with the Rams, Brown, along with Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy, and Merlin Olsen formed the "Fearsome Foursome", the most feared defensive line at the time. He retired after three seasons with the Rams, ending a career in which he was an NFC Pro Bowl player for 6 straight seasons (1962-1967) and a 8-time All-Pro. Brown was the first NFL player to have a playing weight over 300 lb but his size and speed made him one of the most dynamic players of the time.

[edit] Restaurateur

After his playing career was over, Brown went into the restaurant business. He started a chain of 8 restaurants in the Chicago area, and later owned 3 McDonald's locations in Virginia. Today he owns Roger Brown's Restaurant and Sports Bar in Portsmouth, Virginia and is active in the Hampton Roads community, serving on 14 various local boards and committees.

[edit] Trivia

  • Wore # 76 with the Lions and # 78 with the Rams.
  • A game-used 1966 Lions jersey recently sold for $1299. A late 1960s game-used Rams jersey sold for $4553. [1]
  • Was featured in the George Plimpton novel "Paper Lion" and later, the 1968 film based on the book.

[edit] See also