Willie Brown (American football, born 1942) facts for kids
| Date of birth: | March 21, 1942 |
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| Place of birth: | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| Date of death: | July 26, 2018 (aged 76) |
| Place of death: | Carson, California |
Quick facts for kids
Career information
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| Position(s): | Running Back, Wide Receiver, Defensive back |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 188 lb (85 kg) |
| College: | USC Trojans |
| NFL Draft: | 1964 / Round: 3rd / Pick: 32nd |
| Drafted by: | Los Angeles Rams |
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Organizations
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Career stats
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| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Willie Brown (born March 21, 1942 – died July 26, 2018) was a talented American football player and coach. He was a star player at the University of Southern California (USC). After college, he played for three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Later, he became a coach for the USC Trojans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL team.
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Willie Brown's Playing Days
Willie Brown started his football journey in high school. He played at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. In 1959, he was named the California Interscholastic Federation player of the year. This was a big award for a high school athlete!
College Football Star
Brown then went on to play college football for the University of Southern California (USC). He was a special kind of player called a two-way player. This means he played both offense and defense. He started as a tailback (who runs with the ball) and a kickoff returner. He also played defensive back (who defends against passes) and flanker (a type of receiver).
In 1962, Brown helped lead the Trojans to a national championship. He was the team's best player in rushing yards, kickoff returns, and interceptions that year. The next year, in 1963, he was the team captain. He led the team in receiving yards, scoring points, and interceptions.
Baseball Success at USC
Willie Brown was not just good at football. He was also a fantastic baseball player! He played center field and shortstop for the university's baseball team. In 1963, his baseball team won the College World Series. This is a huge achievement in college baseball.
Playing in the NFL
In the 1964 NFL Draft, Willie Brown was chosen by the Los Angeles Rams. He was the 32nd player picked overall. He played two seasons with the Rams. After that, he finished his playing career with the Philadelphia Eagles. During his time in the NFL, he ran for 133 yards and caught passes for 110 yards.
Willie Brown's Coaching Career
After his playing days, Willie Brown returned to USC. He became an assistant football coach for the Trojans from 1968 to 1975. During this time, he helped the Trojans win two more national championships, in 1972 and 1974.
He also helped the Trojan baseball team as an assistant coach in 1969 and 1970. In 1970, the baseball team won the College World Series again!
Later, Brown coached in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1976 and 1978, he coached the wide receivers. In 1977, he coached the running backs. In his later years, from 1996 to 2016, he worked at USC helping student-athletes with their schoolwork.
Willie Brown's Family Life
Willie Brown had two brothers, Oscar and Ollie. Both of his brothers also played professional baseball in Major League Baseball. Ollie Brown was a very famous player. He was the first player ever picked by the San Diego Padres in a special draft in 1968. He was known as the "Original Padre." Ollie passed away in 2015.
Willie Brown himself passed away on July 26, 2018, in Carson, California. He died from cancer.
