April 25, 2016

Highlighted Year: Chad Brown, 1996

Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers



Age: 26
4th season in pro football & with Steelers
College: Colorado
Height: 6’2”   Weight: 240

Prelude:
A four-year starter in college, Brown was chosen by the Steelers in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft. He moved into the starting lineup at inside linebacker due to an injury to Jerry Olsavsky and, while a raw talent, performed ably with three sacks, two forced fumbles, and 69 tackles. Brown excelled in 1994 as part of an outstanding linebacker corps, compiling 8.5 sacks and 90 tackles, and was used as a rushing defensive end on passing downs. He missed six games due to injuries in ’95. After three years, Brown totaled 17 sacks and 218 tackles.

1996 Season Summary
Appeared in 14 of 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 13 [5, tied with four others]
Most sacks, game – 4.5 vs. Cincinnati 10/13
Multi-sack games – 3
Interceptions – 2
Most interceptions, game – 1 vs. Cincinnati 10/13, at Cincinnati 11/10
Int. return yards – 20
Most int. return yards, game – 16 at Cincinnati 11/10
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble recoveries – 2
Forced fumbles – 3
Tackles – 50
Assists – 31

Postseason: 2 G
Sacks – 4
Most sacks, game – 3 vs. Indianapolis, AFC Wild Card playoff
Interceptions – 1
Int. return yards – 0
TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl

Steelers went 10-6 to finish first in the AFC Central while leading the conference in sacks (51), fewest total yards allowed (4362), fewest passing yards allowed (2947), and fewest points allowed (257). Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Indianapolis Colts (42-14). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to New England Patriots (28-3).

Aftermath:
Brown departed the Steelers for Seattle as a free agent in 1997. Playing at right OLB in a 4-3 scheme, he led the Seahawks with 104 tackles while also registering 6.5 sacks and scoring two touchdowns among his four fumble recoveries. Brown was credited with a career-high 149 tackles in ’98, receiving consensus first-team All-NFL honors and garnering the first of two consecutive Pro Bowl selections. He spent a total of eight seasons with Seattle, continuing to be a fine playmaker if also showing signs of wear. He left the Seahawks after the 2004 season and, in his last three years, played for the Patriots twice with a return to Pittsburgh in between. Overall, over the course of 15 seasons and 188 games, Brown compiled six interceptions, 15 fumble recoveries, three of which were returned for TDs, 79 sacks, and over a thousand tackles. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors twice and was chosen to three Pro Bowls.

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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