Chad Brown (American football official) facts for kids

Chadwick Curtis "Chad" Brown Jr. (born September 9, 1947 – died September 9, 2016) was an important official in the National Football League (NFL). He worked as an NFL official from 1992 to 2014. Chad Brown was an umpire, which is a specific type of official on the field. He was part of two huge football games, the Super Bowls in 2001 and 2011. He also served as a backup official for another Super Bowl in 1999. You would always see him wearing uniform number 31.

Chad Brown's Football Journey

Before the NFL

Before becoming an NFL official, Chad Brown worked as a football official for the Big West Athletic Conference. He also played college football himself. He played at East Texas State, which is now called Texas A&M University–Commerce.

College Football Star

In 1966, when he was a sophomore, his team won its first Lone Star Conference football championship. Chad Brown was an offensive and defensive tackle. He was recognized as an NAIA All-American. He was also an All-Lone Star Conference offensive lineman in 1967 and 1968. In 1968, he became a Kodak All-American. He was the first African-American player from his college to achieve All-American status.

Hall of Fame Recognition

Because of his amazing achievements in sports, Chad Brown was inducted into the East Texas State (ETSU) Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. After college, he tried out for NFL teams. He was on the preseason rosters for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Houston Oilers, and the New Orleans Saints.

Work Outside the NFL

Outside of his NFL officiating career, Chad Brown also worked at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He started working there in 1988. He retired from UCLA in 2011. At UCLA, he held several roles in sports management. He also served as an Executive Officer to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs.

Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame

In December 2012, Chad Brown was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame. He joined other famous NFL players like Tim Brown, Charles Haley, and Gene Upshaw. Chad Brown and eleven other people were honored for their excellent performance in sports. They were recognized for their sportsmanship, good citizenship, and contributions to sports history as Texas-born, African-American athletes.

Later Years and Legacy

Retirement and Passing

Chad Brown retired during the 2014 NFL season. He had been absent from games due to an illness. He passed away on September 9, 2016, which was his 69th birthday. He had been ill for a long time.

Honoring His Memory

After Chad Brown's death, another umpire named Barry Anderson changed his uniform number to 31. This was to honor Chad Brown. All NFL officials also wore a special memorial patch with the number 31 on their caps. This was a way to remember him.

Books

• Inside the Meat Grinder: An NFL Official's Life in the Trenches