Bob Brown (offensive lineman)

Robert Stanford Brown (December 8, 1941 – June 16, 2023), nicknamed "the Boomer",<ref name="Canton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.

Early life and college

Brown was born on December 8, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, where he later attended East Technical High School.<ref name=gabriel_06182023>Template:Cite news</ref> He was on the football and track teams for three years.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Brown was an overweight 280 pounds (127 kg) when he entered high school, and his older brother Ulysses got Brown into shape, enabling him to play football.<ref name=":0" />

Brown attended the University of Nebraska, along with Ulysses, and both were teammates on the football team.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=mckewon_06172023/>

As a senior in 1963, he was a unanimous All-American selection at guard, helping Nebraska win their first conference championship since 1940.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also helped Nebraska beat Auburn 13–7 in the 1964 Orange Bowl (played on January 1, 1964), throwing a key block that allowed teammate Dennis Claridge to run 68 yards for a touchdown.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The Cornhuskers' first Black All-American,<ref name="mckewon_06172023" /> Brown was voted the Offensive Lineman of the Year by the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club.<ref name="coffin2004" /> He also earned his second consecutive All-Conference selection in the Big Eight.<ref name="mckewon_06172023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Professional career

Brown was selected in the first round of the 1964 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles with the second overall pick.<ref name="Canton"/> The contract he signed with the team had a $100,000 signing bonus.<ref name="Happy Man"/> After his rookie season in 1964, Brown was named to the NFL All-Rookie team and earned second-team All-Pro honors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1965 and 1966 during his five-season career with the Eagles.<ref name="Happy Man">Template:Cite news</ref> After playing 50 consecutive games from his rookie year into the 1967 season, Brown suffered a knee injury, but came back and regained his form in 1968, though the Eagles were a poor 2–12 team.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref>

During his time with the Eagles, he had been called the top offensive lineman in the NFL, Eagles' coach Joe Kuharich calling him equal to or superior to future Hall of fame tackles Forrest Gregg<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Jim Parker;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but in 1969 he demanded that Eagles general manager Pete Retzlaff trade him.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="Happy Man"/> Ram's future Hall of fame head coach George Allen<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> called Brown "the finest offensive lineman in pro football".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a SPORT magazine poll of over 1,000 players before the 1970 season, Brown was selected as the National Football Conference's top offensive lineman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Brown played two All Pro and Pro Bowl seasons for the Rams in 1969-70.<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Raiders' future Hall of Fame coach John Madden<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> called Brown "probably the best tackle in football".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":11">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

He also had a reputation as the meanest lineman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Brown said his game was predicated on inflicting more pain on the defensive lineman than would be inflicted on him. "'The guy who wins is the one who inflicts more pain. I try to drive out his intestinal fortitude. Then he's mine.'" <ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> When the head slap was still a legal maneuver for defensive lineman to use against offensive lineman, Brown would reverse the screws in his helmet, with the pointed ends facing out, and sharpen them.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was known for the exceptional force with which he delivered the "ripup" move, where an offensive lineman would drive his fists into the oncoming pass rushing defender's chest, with Brown sometimes lifting the defensive ends off their feet.<ref name=":3" />

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,<ref name=coffin2004>Template:Cite journal</ref> Brown was also selected to the Pro Bowl six times: thrice with the Eagles, twice with the Rams, and once with the Raiders.<ref name="Canton"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":4" />

Awards and honors

In 1993, Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A member of the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team,<ref name=mckewon_06172023/> he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.<ref name="Canton"/> Brown's No. 64 was retired by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2004.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life and death

Brown was married to Cecelia and had a son, Robert Jr.<ref name=gabriel_06182023/> His son was his presenter at his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.<ref name=gabriel_06182023/>

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.<ref name=gabriel_06182023/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• Template:Trim Pro Football Hall of Fame profile
• Template:Cfbhof
• Bob Brown at Professional Football Researchers Association, Coffin Corner Vol. 26(3) (2004)