Preston Brown (linebacker) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Preston Brown

Brown with the Buffalo Bills in 2014
No. 52, 54
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1992-10-27) October 27, 1992 (age 32) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	251 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High school:	Northwest (Cincinnati)
College:	Louisville (2010–2013)
NFL Draft:	2014 / Round: 3 / Pick: 73
Career history
Buffalo Bills (2014–2017) Cincinnati Bengals (2018–2019) Oakland Raiders (2019) Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)
Career highlights and awards
NFL tackles co-leader (2017) Second-team All-AAC (2013) Second-team All-Big East (2012)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 609 Sacks: 1.0 Forced fumbles: 3 Fumble recoveries: 5 Interceptions: 5 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Michael Preston Brown (born October 27, 1992) is a former professional football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). The Buffalo Bills chose him in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Louisville Cardinals.

Early Life and High School Football

Preston Brown grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He went to Northwest High School. There, he played both running back and linebacker on the football team. He was recognized as a top player in his area. He was even chosen to play in a special All-Star game.

Experts thought he was a good player for college, calling him a "three-star recruit." This means he was considered one of the better high school players. He first planned to play for the Cincinnati Bearcats. But he later decided to play for the Louisville Cardinals instead.

College Football Career

Preston Brown played college football for the Louisville Cardinals from 2010 to 2013. He became a key player on their defense.

2010 Season: Starting Out

In his first year, Brown played in all 13 games. He was a linebacker and also played on special teams. He made his first college tackle against Kentucky. He ended the season with 10 tackles.

2011 Season: Making a Mark

Brown played in all 13 games again, starting in 11 of them. He had a great game against Murray State, making 12 tackles. He also got his first college sack against Syracuse. He was named the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Week once. He finished the season with 84 tackles, ranking second on his team.

2012 Season: A Breakout Year

This season, Brown became the main middle linebacker. He had an amazing game against South Florida, making 17 tackles. In a big overtime win against Cincinnati, he had 13 tackles and an interception. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. For these efforts, he won his second Big East Player of the Week award. He ended the regular season with a career-high 87 tackles. Brown helped Louisville reach the Sugar Bowl, a very important college game. He made 13 tackles in their upset win against Florida.

2013 Season: Senior Success

In his final college season, Brown led his team with 98 tackles. He also had 14 tackles-for-loss and 5 sacks. A tackle-for-loss means stopping an offensive player behind the line of scrimmage. He forced three fumbles and recovered two of them. One recovery was a 48-yard run for his first touchdown. This touchdown helped Louisville win the game. He played in 52 games during his college career. He finished with 301 total tackles, 7 sacks, and 5 interceptions.

Professional Football Career

After college, Preston Brown entered the National Football League (NFL) draft.

Pre-Draft Preparations

Before the draft, experts thought Brown would be chosen in the third or fourth round. He showed off his skills at the NFL Combine. This event allows players to perform drills for NFL teams.

Buffalo Bills (2014–2017)

2014 Season: Rookie Year

The Buffalo Bills picked Preston Brown in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was the 73rd player chosen overall. He signed a four-year contract worth $3 million. During training camp, he worked hard to earn a starting spot. He became a starting linebacker early in the season. In Week 2, he had a season-high 13 tackles against the Miami Dolphins. He also got his first NFL interception against the New York Jets. He finished his rookie season with 109 tackles, which was the most on the Bills team that year.

2015 Season: First NFL Touchdown

In 2015, Brown continued as a starting inside linebacker for the Bills. In Week 3, he had an amazing game against the Miami Dolphins. He made seven tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions. He even returned one interception 43 yards for his first NFL touchdown! He ended the season with 120 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

2016 Season: Leading Tackler

Brown remained a key player for the Bills in 2016. He had a season-high 16 tackles against the New York Jets in Week 2. He also recorded his first NFL sack against Tom Brady. He finished the season with 139 tackles, showing his consistent performance.

2017 Season: League Leader

In 2017, Brown was named the starting middle linebacker. He had a career-high 144 tackles this season. This number tied him for the most tackles in the entire NFL that year! He helped the Bills reach the playoffs. In his first playoff game, he made six tackles against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cincinnati Bengals (2018–2019)

In 2018, Preston Brown signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. He started seven games before a knee injury ended his season. In 2019, he signed a new three-year contract with the Bengals. In Week 2, he had 14 tackles against the San Francisco 49ers. However, he was later released by the Bengals in November 2019.

Oakland Raiders (2019)

After leaving the Bengals, Brown was signed by the Oakland Raiders in November 2019. He played in one game for them. He was released by the Raiders in December 2019.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)

Right after being released by the Raiders, the Jacksonville Jaguars picked up Preston Brown. This means they added him to their team. He finished the 2019 season with the Jaguars.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs