Tim Brown (American football) facts for kids
Brown in 2005
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
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| Born: | July 22, 1966 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||||
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| High school: | Woodrow Wilson (Dallas) | ||||||||||
| College: | Notre Dame (1984–1987) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Timothy Donell Brown (born July 22, 1966) is a famous American former football player. He played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He is known for his amazing career with the Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders. Many people consider him one of the best wide receivers in NFL history.
Before joining the NFL, Tim played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He won the Heisman Trophy, which is a huge award for college football players. He was the first wide receiver ever to win it! After 16 years with the Raiders, he also played a short time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2015, Tim Brown was honored by being put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As of 2023, Tim Brown is still involved in football. He is the chairman and commissioner of The Arena League. This is a new indoor football league that started playing games in 2024.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Timothy Donell Brown was born in Dallas, Texas, on July 22, 1966. He went to Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas. This school is special because another Heisman Trophy winner, Davey O'Brien, also went there in 1938. When Tim won the Heisman in 1987, Woodrow Wilson became the first high school to have two Heisman winners!
When Tim was a freshman, he didn't play football. His mom didn't want him to. Instead, he played in the school band. But in his sophomore year, he secretly joined the football team. His mom found out when the band leader called to ask why he wasn't at band practice anymore! Even though Tim was a great player, his high school team didn't win many games. Still, many big colleges wanted him to play for them. He was also a fantastic track athlete, excelling in the 400-meter dash and long jump.
College Football Star
Tim Brown chose to go to the University of Notre Dame. He played there from 1984 to 1987 and earned the nickname "Touchdown Timmy." In his first year, he caught 28 passes, which was a record for a freshman. As a junior, he set another record with 1,937 total yards gained.
In 1987, Tim caught 34 passes for 846 yards. He also returned 34 punts for 401 yards and scored eight touchdowns. By the end of his college career, he had 137 catches for 2,493 yards. He also set a school record with 5,024 total yards and scored 22 touchdowns.
Tim was named an All-American twice. He won the 1987 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to ever win this top award. After he graduated, Notre Dame won the national championship in 1988. In 2009, Tim Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the Raiders
The Los Angeles Raiders picked Tim Brown as the sixth player overall in the 1988 NFL draft. In his first NFL season, he was amazing at returning kickoffs. He led the league in kickoff returns and total return yards.
It took a few years for him to become the team's main receiver. But from 1993 to 2001, he had nine years in a row where he gained over 1,000 receiving yards! He also led the NFL in punt returns in 1994 and in catches in 1997. Tim was chosen for the Pro Bowl nine times during his career.
In 2001, Tim played alongside another legendary wide receiver, Jerry Rice. On December 9, 2001, Tim returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown. This made him the oldest player in NFL history to score a touchdown on a punt return. He also set Raiders team records for catches, receiving yards, and punt return yards. The Raiders released Tim before the 2004 season because he didn't want to play a smaller role.
Time with the Buccaneers and Retirement
After leaving the Raiders, Tim Brown signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their coach was Jon Gruden, who used to coach the Raiders. On September 27, 2004, Tim played his first game against the Raiders in Oakland. In that game, he scored his 100th career receiving touchdown. This tied him for third place on the NFL's all-time list at that time. The Oakland fans gave him a huge standing ovation!
In 2005, Tim Brown signed a special one-day contract with the Raiders. This allowed him to officially retire as a Raider. He retired with 14,934 receiving yards, which was the second-highest total in NFL history at the time. He also had 1,094 catches (third all-time) and 100 touchdown catches (tied for third). Tim also gained many yards returning punts and kickoffs. In total, he had 19,682 combined yards, ranking him fifth all-time when he retired. He is the only player to be in the top five for both receiving and return yards when he retired.
On January 31, 2015, Tim Brown was finally selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was officially inducted on August 8, 2015, cementing his place as one of football's all-time greats.
After Playing Football
After his playing career, Tim Brown has stayed busy. He appeared in the movie Little Giants. He also co-hosted a TV show called FSN Pro Football Preview.
Tim is very involved in helping kids. In 1995, he became the National Chairman of Athletes & Entertainers for Kids. This group helps millions of children and teens through mentoring and educational programs.
As of 2013, Tim Brown was the General Manager and Co-Owner of the Texas Revolution, an indoor football team. He also worked as an analyst for ESPN College Football, sharing his knowledge about college games. Tim also hosts a weekly sports-talk show on WRDI.
Tim Brown currently lives in El Cerrito, California. He continues to be a respected figure in the football world and a role model for young athletes.
Images for kids
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Brown at an autograph signing in 2004.
