Age: 27
5th
season in pro football & with Vikings
College: Southern
California
Height: 6’2” Weight: 210
Prelude:
Browner was
credited with 243 tackles, 9 interceptions, and seven fumble recoveries in
college and received All-Pac 10 recognition. He was chosen by the Vikings in
the first round of the 1983 NFL draft (19th overall) and was
primarily a reserve in his first two seasons. Browner broke out in 1985, his
first full year as the starting strong safety, and was selected to the Pro Bowl
for the first of six straight seasons and received second-team All-NFC honors
from UPI. Tough, hard-hitting, and with ideal all-around skills at his
position, he intercepted four passes in ’86, one of which he returned for a
touchdown.
1987 Season Summary
Appeared in 12
of 15 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 6 [2, tied with four others]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 at Detroit 12/20
Int. return
yards – 67 [18, tied with Ray Isom]
Most int.
return yards, game – 43 (on 2 int.) at Detroit 12/20
Int. TDs – 0
Sacks – 1
Fumble
recoveries – 1
Forced
fumbles – 0
Tackles – 121
Postseason: 3 G
Sacks – 0
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 1
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Vikings went 8-7
in the strike-shortened season (three games were played with replacement
players) to finish second in the NFC Central and qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card. Won NFC Wild Card playoff over
New Orleans Saints (44-10) & NFC Divisional playoff over San Francisco
49ers (36-24). Lost NFC Championship to Washington Redskins (17-10).
Aftermath:
Browner
followed up with another outstanding year in 1988 in which he intercepted five
passes, accounted for 117 tackles, and was again a consensus first-team All-NFL
selection. He intercepted a career-high 7 passes in 1990, but his performance
dropped off in ’91, his ninth and last year with the Vikings. He finished up
with Tampa Bay in 1992. Overall, he intercepted 37 passes, all with Minnesota,
and returned three of them for TDs. Browner also was credited with 9.5 sacks
and recovered 17 fumbles. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection three
times, received at least some first-team recognition after one other season,
and was chosen to six Pro Bowls. Browner was selected to the 1980s All-Decade
team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His brothers Ross and Jim also played in
the NFL.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
