Joey Browner facts for kids
Browner in 2007
|
|||||||||||
| No. 47 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | May 15, 1960 Warren, Ohio, U.S. |
||||||||||
| Died: | March 28, 2026 (aged 65) | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 221 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: |
|
||||||||||
| College: | USC (1979–1982) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Joey Matthew Browner (born May 15, 1960, died March 28, 2026) was a talented American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). Joey Browner was a star for the Minnesota Vikings from 1983 to 1991. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992. Before turning pro, he played college football for the USC Trojans.
Contents
Discovering Joey Browner: An NFL Legend
Early Life and High School Sports
Joey Browner went to Western Reserve High School in Ohio for two years. Later, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and finished high school at Southwest High. He was an amazing athlete. As a junior, he was an All-State defensive lineman. He also played basketball with future NBA player Gerald Wilkins. Plus, he was a talented track and field runner. He qualified twice for the Ohio State track meet.
In his senior year, Joey made 120 tackles and three interceptions. He was recognized as a Parade All-American. He was also named Georgia's top lineman for his class. Many thought he would join his brothers at Notre Dame. But Joey chose to play for the University of Southern California (USC) instead.
College Football Journey at USC
At USC, Joey Browner was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1982. He played alongside other future football stars. These included Dennis Smith, Ronnie Lott (a Hall of Famer), and future coach Jeff Fisher. He also played with Anthony Muñoz, Marcus Allen, Charles White, and Paul McDonald.
Joey was chosen for the All-Pac-10 and All-Coast first teams. During his college years, he made 243 tackles. He also had nine interceptions, 40 passes defended, and seven fumble recoveries. He even scored three touchdowns!
USC Team Achievements
His USC teams had a great record of 36 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie. He played in important games like the Rose Bowl Game and the Fiesta Bowl.
Professional Career with the Vikings and Buccaneers
In 1983, the Minnesota Vikings picked Joey Browner. He was the 19th player chosen in the first round of the NFL draft. He played as a safety, a key defensive position.
Joey was an amazing defensive player and tackler. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl six times from 1985 to 1990. This was during his time with the Vikings. He ended his professional career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992. He was also named to the famous "All-Madden Team" four times.
While with the Vikings, Joey also traveled the world. He went to China in 1988 with other NFL players. In 1989, he visited Germany as part of a USO Tour. He even went to Paris in 1991 to help start a French football championship game.
NFL Highlights and Records
Throughout his NFL career, Joey made over 1,100 tackles. He also caused 18 fumbles and recovered 16 of them. He led the Vikings in nine different defensive stats.
Joey holds an NFL Pro Bowl record. He returned three fumbles for touchdowns in those games. In his entire career, including playoffs, he had 40 interceptions. These interceptions gained 505 yards.
Honoring Joey Browner's Legacy
The Minnesota Vikings honored Joey Browner in October 2013. They added him to the team's Ring of Honor. This happened during a Sunday night football game. He was the 21st person to join this special group.
In 2019, the Professional Football Researchers Association recognized Joey. They named him to their 'Hall of Very Good' class.
Joey Browner's Family and Enduring Impact
Joey Browner came from a very athletic family. Six members of his family played in the NFL! His brothers Ross Browner, Jim Browner, and Keith Browner all played pro football. His nephew Max Starks (Ross's son) also played. Another nephew, Keith Browner, Jr. (Keith's son), was also an NFL player. His brother Willard was even drafted by the Chicago White Sox for baseball. Willard also played football for Notre Dame. His youngest brother, Gerald, played for the University of Georgia.
Joey was part of the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1980s. He was also on the NFL Gridiron Legends team with his former teammate Cris Carter. He was even featured in the video 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.
Joey was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame nine times. He was the 21st member of the Vikings' Ring of Honor. He was also named to the "All-Mall of America Field Team" in 2013. This team recognized the best Vikings players who played at their former stadium.
Joey Browner passed away on March 28, 2026, at 65 years old. After his passing, former Vikings player Steve Jordan shared kind words. He said Joey had amazing talent and a big heart. Steve Jordan added that Joey was a positive person and would be truly missed.
