Ralph Brown (cornerback) facts for kids

Ralph Davis Brown II (born September 16, 1978) is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was recognized as an All-American in 1999. In the NFL, he played for teams like the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals.

Early Life and High School Football

Ralph Brown was born in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Baldwin Park, California, and went to Charles Bursch Elementary School. Later, he attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California.

High School Achievements

Ralph was a top defensive back in the country. In 1995, he was named to the Dream Team. USA Today also put him on their second-team All-America squad that same year.

During his senior year, Ralph was amazing at running the ball. He gained 2,246 yards and helped his team win the Division I championship. He scored the winning touchdown in that big game. He was named Player of the Year for his area. He also scored 29 touchdowns in one season. In one game, he even scored a school-record 6 touchdowns!

Ralph was also a strong defensive player. He made 57 tackles and caught 6 interceptions. He also played track and earned awards for it. In his sophomore and junior years, he was an all-state cornerback.

College Football Career

Ralph Brown played college football at the University of Nebraska. He was part of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team from 1996 to 1999.

College Highlights

During his time at Nebraska, Ralph made 143 tackles. He is third on the Cornhuskers' all-time list with 11 interceptions. He also holds a school record with 50 pass deflections.

In 1999, he was named a first-team All-American. This means he was one of the best college football players in the country. He was also a top candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award. This award goes to the best defensive back in college football.

Ralph was a first-team All-Big Twelve Conference player in 1997 and 1998. He also did well in school, making the Big Twelve Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 1997. Ralph was one of only six new players to play for the Huskers in 1996. He was the only one to start his very first game as a freshman. This was a big deal, as it hadn't happened at Nebraska since World War II.

College Statistics

Here are Ralph Brown's college football statistics:

Notes - Statistics include bowl game performances.

Professional NFL Career

Ralph Brown was chosen by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL draft. This was the 140th pick overall.

Time with the New York Giants

He played four seasons with the Giants, from 2000 to 2003. In his first year, he played in two games. He mostly played on special teams. An injury to his kidney ended his first season early.

In 2001, he played in eight games. He made two tackles on defense and five tackles on special teams.

The year 2002 was his best with the Giants so far. He played in all 16 games and started two of them. He finished with 25 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He also defended three passes.

In his last season with the Giants (2003), Ralph was a valuable player. He helped out in the secondary defense and on special teams. He played in 11 games and started seven. He missed three games because of a shoulder injury. He finished the season with 41 tackles, one sack, and two interceptions. He even scored one touchdown!

Later NFL Teams

After the Giants, Ralph Brown played for other NFL teams. He played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2004 to 2005. Then he joined the Cleveland Browns in 2006. Finally, he played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2007 through 2009.

NFL Career Statistics

Here are Ralph Brown's statistics from his time in the NFL:

Regular season

Playoffs