Age: 25
4th
season in pro football & with Falcons
College: West
Texas A & M
Height: 6’2” Weight: 202
Prelude:
Brown was
chosen by the Falcons in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL draft and started nine
games at free safety as a rookie, intercepting three passes. He became part of
a secondary that led the NFC in pass defense twice in three years (1971 and
’73) and finished a close second in ’72, the year Brown moved over to strong
safety. In 1973 he picked off six passes and also returned 40 punts for a
9.0-yard average.
1974 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 8 [3, tied with Thom Darden & Jake Scott, 1st in NFC]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 vs. Chicago 10/13
Int. return
yards – 164 [4]
Most int.
return yards, game – 59 (on 1 int.) at NY Giants 10/6
Int. TDs – 1
[4, tied with many others]
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Punt Returns
Returns – 9
Yards – 96
Average per
return – 10.7
TDs – 0
Longest return
– 23 yards
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Awards & Honors:
2nd
team All-NFC: UPI
Falcons went 3-11
to finish fourth in the NFC West while leading the conference in fewest passing
yards allowed (1572) – but also giving up the most rushing yards in the NFL
(2564).
Aftermath:
Brown was
shifted to free safety in 1975 and had another fine season while he intercepted
four passes and returned one for a touchdown. He moved back to strong safety
for the next two years and was dealt to New Orleans in 1978, where he continued
to be a solid performer. Brown spent three years with the Saints before
retiring in 1980. Overall, he appeared in 137 games over ten seasons and
intercepted 38 passes, 31 of them with the Falcons, two of which were returned
for TDs.
--
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
