Husker Legend Passes Away

Nebraska and NFL legend Bob Brown passed away at the age of 81 on Friday, June 16. One of the game’s greatest offensive linemen, Brown is a member of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Brown is one of only three Huskers enshrined in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He is also one of only three Huskers to have his number (No. 64) permanently retired at Nebraska. Brown was a three-year letterwinner for the Huskers from 1961 to 1963, ending his career as a first-team All-American as a senior when he led Nebraska to its first conference title in 23 seasons.

Brown was the first African-American All-American in the history of Nebraska football and was Bob Devaney’s first All-American as Husker coach. After his selection as a unanimous All-American in 1963, Brown was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft. He played 10 seasons in the NFL as an offensive tackle with the Philadelphia Eagles (five seasons), the Los Angeles Rams (two seasons) and the Oakland Raiders (three seasons). Brown was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, a seven-time first-team All-NFL selection, and he was named the NFL/NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year three times. Brown was also a member of the 1960s NFL All-Decade team.

A Cleveland native, Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004, the same year his number was permanently retired at Nebraska. Brown was a 1964 graduate of the University of Nebraska, earning his degree in education.