| Date of birth: | 1 May 1937 |
| Place of birth: | Surry County, Virginia |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | DT |
| College: | Maryland Eastern Shore |
| NFL Draft: | 1960 / Round: 4 / Pick 42 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1960-1966 1967-1969 |
Detroit Lions Los Angeles Rams |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 6 |
| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
| College Football Hall of Fame | |
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.
Brown was drafted in the 4th round, 42nd overall, 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. Was known for his performance in the "Thanksgiving Day Massacre" game against the Green Bay Packers in 1962 where he sacked Bart Starr 6 times, including one for a safety.
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 NFL Pro Bowl player for 6 straight seasons (1962-1967) and a 2-time first-team All-Pro (1962 and 1963). 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.
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. In 2009 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.