| No. 33 | |
| Running back | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: August 17, 1969 | |
| Place of birth: Palestine, Texas | |
| Career information | |
| College: Arkansas–Pine Bluff | |
| NFL Draft: 1991 / Round: 7 / Pick: 171 | |
| Debuted in 1992 for the San Antonio Riders | |
| Last played in 1992 for the Phoenix Cardinals | |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NFL statistics as of 1992 | |
| Rushing yards | 194 |
| Rushing average | 2.9 |
| Rushing TDs | 2 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
Ivory Lee Brown (born August 17, 1969)[1] is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League and World League of American Football. He played for the Phoenix Cardinals of the NFL[2] and the San Antonio Riders of the WLAF.[3] Brown is the uncle of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.[4]
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Ivory Lee Brown was a highly recruited running back out of Palestine, Texas. As a senior in 1986, Brown rushed for 1800 yards and was the rated the second highest recruit in the state of Texas.[5] Brown originally intended to sign with Texas A&M University out of high school, but due to SAT problems, he attended Tyler Junior College instead. While at junior college, Brown was recruited to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff by head coach Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley.[5] Cooley had formerly coached NFL great Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley State University, and had recently come to UAPB, which was an NAIA school at the time. In Brown's first season with the Golden Lions, he led the NAIA in rushing with 1,465 yards, averaging 8.3 yards per carry.[6]
Brown was drafted by the Phoenix Cardinals in the seventh round (171st pick overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft, ahead of notable players such as Leon Lett, and Keenan McCardell. He would be placed on the team's developmental squad, and did not see any playing time during his rookie season. [7]
The San Antonio Riders of the fledgling World League of American Football signed Ivory Lee Brown in 1992 to replace running back Ricky Blake who had signed with the Cowboys at the conclusion of the 1991 season. Brown played with the Riders in 1992 and won the league's rushing title with 767 yards, [5] propelling him into the 1992 regular NFL season.
Brown emerged as a potential starter due to running back Johnny Johnson's unexpected pre-season hold-out.[8] Brown played in seven games, starting five, during the 1992 NFL season, but would not make the Cardinals roster in 1993 and later retired.