Roger Brown (football player)

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Roger Brown
Date of birth	1 May 1937
Place of birth	Surry County, Virginia
Position(s)	DT
College	Maryland State
NFL Draft	1960 / Round 1
Pro Bowls	6
Statistics	Pro Football Reference
Team(s)
1960-1966 1967-1969	Detroit Lions Los Angeles Rams

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

[edit] Football Career

Brown was drafted 4th in the 1960 NFL Draft out of Maryland State college by the Detroit Lions.played in the college all-star game in chicago vs the baltimore colts.played with the original fearsome foursome, of Alex Karres,Roger Brown,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 lbs. 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.
• Was featured in the George Plimpton novel "Paper Lion" and later, the 1968 film based on the book.