Donald Brown (defensive back) facts for kids

Donald Brown, born on November 28, 1963, is a former American football player. He played as a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for a couple of seasons. He was part of teams like the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and New York Giants. Donald Brown also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Miami Hooters. He was recognized for his skills, earning a spot on the second-team All-Arena in 1994.

Donald Brown's Early Life

Donald Brown was born in Annapolis, Maryland, on November 28, 1963. He loved playing sports from a young age. He went to Annapolis High School in Annapolis.

High School Sports Star

In high school, Donald was a talented running back in football. In 1980, his senior year, he earned special honors. He was named to the Arundel Sun All-County team. That same season, he set a school record. He rushed for an amazing 276 yards in just one game. Besides football, Donald also played baseball and basketball. He was a true all-around athlete.

College Football Journey

Donald Brown started his college football career in 1981. He joined the Oklahoma Sooners at the University of Oklahoma. He played as a running back, but not very often.

Switching Teams and Positions

By 1983, Donald decided to transfer to the University of Maryland. He joined the Maryland Terrapins for the 1984 season. Here, he made a big change. He switched from running back to defensive back. In 1984, he caught one interception. He also returned five kicks for a total of 53 yards. In 1985, he made another interception.

Professional Football Career

Donald Brown's professional career began in 1986. He was chosen by the San Diego Chargers. This happened in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL draft. He was the 129th player picked overall.

Playing in the NFL

Donald officially joined the Chargers on July 21, 1986. He played in 13 games for them that year. He even started seven of those games. During his time with the Chargers, he made one interception. He also recovered two fumbles. He left the team on December 2, 1986.

A week later, Donald signed with the Miami Dolphins. He played in two games for them in late 1986. He was released by the Dolphins in August 1987.

Donald then briefly signed with the Los Angeles Raiders. This was in August 1987. However, he was released just a week later.

Time with the New York Giants

On October 2, 1987, Donald joined the New York Giants. This was during an NFL players' strike. He started all three games the Giants played during the strike. In these games, he had one interception and one fumble recovery. After the strike ended, he was released on October 19.

Donald later rejoined the Giants on December 23, 1987. He was expected to start in the team's final game. However, he did not play in that game. He was released by the Giants in July 1988.

Arena Football League Days

After his time in the NFL, Donald Brown played in the Arena Football League (AFL). He joined the Miami Hooters in 1994. He played in nine games that season. He made 44 solo tackles and five interceptions. He also broke up nine passes. He forced one fumble and recovered another.

For his great performance in 1994, he was honored. He was named second-team All-Arena as a defensive specialist. The Miami Hooters finished that season with a record of 5 wins and 7 losses. In 1995, he played in ten more games for the Hooters.