Bob Brown obit

Bob Brown dies at 81. Pro Football Hall of Famer 'most aggressive lineman' who ever played

 

He was not on the list.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Brown, who John Madden once called "the most aggressive lineman that ever played," died Friday, the Hall of Fame announced Saturday. He was 81.

Brown was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the second overall pick in the 1964 NFL draft. The Cleveland native and Nebraska product, nicknamed "Boomer," spent five seasons with the Eagles, two with the Rams and the final three years of his career with the Raiders.

The offensive tackle racked up accolades along the way.

He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and was named first team All-Pro in five of his 10 seasons (and earned three other second-team nods). Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

"Bob Brown demonstrated different personalities on and off the field,” Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said in a statement. "On the field, he was as fierce an opponent as any defensive linemen or linebacker ever faced. He used every tactic and technique – and sometimes brute force – to crush the will of the person across the line from him. And took great pride in doing so.

"Yet off the field, he demonstrated a quiet, soft-spoken and caring nature that his son, Robert Jr., captured eloquently when he presented his dad for enshrinement in 2004. The Hall extends its thoughts and prayers to CeCe and Robert Jr. for their loss."

Brown was born on December 8, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended East Technical High School.

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. As a senior in 1963, he was a unanimous All-American selection at guard, helping Nebraska win their first conference championship since 1940. The Cornhuskers' first Black All-American, Brown was voted the offensive lineman of the year by the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club. He also earned his second consecutive all-conference selection in the Big Eight.

Brown was selected in the first round of the 1964 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles with the second overall pick. The contract he signed with the team had a $100,000 signing bonus. After his rookie season in 1964, Brown was named to the NFL All-Rookie team and earned second-team All-Pro honors. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1965 and 1966 during his five-season career with the Eagles.

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.

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. 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.

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, Brown was also selected to the Pro Bowl six times: thrice with the Eagles, twice with the Rams, and once with the Raiders.

In 1993, Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. A member of the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Brown's No. 64 was retired by the University of Nebraska in 2004.