Joey Browner facts for kids
Browner in 2007
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | May 15, 1960 Warren, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 221 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Warren Western Reserve (Warren, Ohio) Southwest (Atlanta, Georgia) |
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| College: | USC (1979–1982) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Joey Matthew Browner (born May 15, 1960) is a former American football player. He was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). Joey Browner played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1983 to 1991. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992. Before joining the NFL, Browner played college football for the USC Trojans.
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Early Life and High School Football
Joey Browner grew up in Warren, Ohio. He went to Western Reserve High for two years. Later, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and attended Southwest High.
High School Sports Achievements
As a junior, Browner was an All-State defensive lineman. He also played basketball with future NBA player Gerald Wilkins. Joey was also a talented track and field athlete. He qualified twice for the Ohio State track meet.
In his senior year, Browner made 120 tackles and had three interceptions. He earned Parade All-American honors. He was also named Georgia's class 3A lineman of the year. Many thought he would join his brothers at Notre Dame. However, he chose to play for the University of Southern California instead.
College Football Career at USC
Joey Browner became a star player at USC. In 1982, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player. He played alongside other great defensive players. These included Dennis Smith and Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott. Future Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher was also on the team.
Key College Stats and Honors
Browner was selected for the first-team All-Pac-10 and first-team All-Coast teams. During his college career, he had 243 total tackles. He also made nine interceptions and defended 40 passes. He recovered seven fumbles and scored three touchdowns.
His USC teams had a great record of 36 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie. He played in one Rose Bowl Game and one Fiesta Bowl.
Professional NFL Career
The Minnesota Vikings picked Joey Browner in the 1983 NFL draft. He was the 19th player chosen in the first round. He played as a safety.
Highlights with the Minnesota Vikings
Browner was an amazing defensive player and tackler. He was chosen for six Pro Bowls from 1985 to 1990. These were all while he played for the Vikings. He was also named to the John Madden "All-Madden Team" four times.
During his time with the Vikings, Browner traveled a lot. In 1988, he went to China with the NFL players association. In 1989, he visited Germany on a USO Tour. In 1991, he went to Paris to help start the French Federation of American Football Annual Championship game.
Career Statistics and Records
Joey Browner had over 1,100 total tackles in his NFL career. He caused 18 fumbles and recovered 16 of them. He also led the Vikings in nine different defensive categories.
Browner holds an NFL Pro Bowl record. He returned three fumble recoveries for touchdowns. In his career, including playoffs, he had 40 interceptions. These interceptions gained 505 total yards.
Post-Playing Honors
In October 2013, the Minnesota Vikings honored Joey Browner. They placed him in the team's Ring of Honor. This happened during a Sunday night football game against the Packers. He was the 21st person to join the Vikings Ring of Honor.
In 2019, the Professional Football Researchers Association recognized Browner. They named him to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2019. He is also a member of the NFL Gridiron Legends team.
Family and Other Achievements
Joey Browner comes from a family of talented football players. Six members of his family have played in the NFL.
Browner Family in the NFL
His brothers Ross Browner (who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers), Jim Browner (Cincinnati Bengals), and Keith Browner all played in the NFL. Ross's son, Max Starks (Pittsburgh Steelers), also played. Keith's son, Keith Browner, Jr. (Houston Texans), played too.
Joey's next oldest brother, Willard, was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. He also played as a starting tailback for Notre Dame. His youngest brother, Gerald, played at the University of Georgia.
Other Recognitions
Joey Browner is part of the 1980s All-Star All-Decade Team. He is also on the PAC-12 All-Century Team. He was featured in the EA Sports game, NFL Street 2. In 2004, Joey Browner was inducted into the African-American Hall of Fame. This was for his work in radio sports broadcasting.
Browner has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame nine times. He is the 21st member of the Vikings Ring of Honor. He is also the 17th player in Minnesota Vikings history to receive this honor. In 2013, Browner was inducted into the "All-Mall of America Field Team." This team recognized the best players who played for the Vikings at the Metrodome/Mall of America Field.
