Raiders’ Hall of Fame cornerback dies at age 78

Willie Brown established the bump-and-run style of defense the Raiders used for decades, provided the iconic play in Oakland’s first Super Bowl title, and impacted nearly every player who suited up for the team over the past half-century.

Brown was the consummate Raider.

The Hall of Fame cornerback, who helped fuel the Raiders’ success during 12 years on the field before becoming an integral part of the franchise during his post-playing career, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer. He was 78.

“Willie Brown was a true Raider and one of the best cornerbacks that ever played the game,” Hall of Fame coach John Madden said. “It was a comfort to a coach to be able to have Willie Brown in the defensive backfield. Willie was a good guy, a team captain, and a true Raider from the day he joined our team in 1967, until he passed away today. He will be missed by me and the entire Raiders organization.”

Al Davis acquired Brown for the Raiders in a trade from Denver in 1967 in one of the best moves he made during his Hall of Fame career running the Raiders.

Brown went on to have a brilliant career with Oakland, highlighted by his 75yard interception return for a touchdown against Minnesota that helped the Raiders win their first Super Bowl.

Brown was one of the game’s best lockdown cornerbacks and fit perfectly in Davis’ preferred bump-and-run style of defense on the Raiders. He intercepted 54 passes, was a first-team All-Pro five times in the AFL and NFL and made the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1984.

“I didn’t play DB in college,” Brown told ESPN for a story in 2013. “I just knew that if you beat the hell out of the receivers coming off the line of scrimmage, that was going to affect whether they could catch the ball or not.”

His most memorable play came in the Super Bowl against the Vikings on Jan. 9, 1977. With the Raiders leading 26-0 in the fourth quarter, Brown intercepted a pass from Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton and raced for the score, prompting the iconic radio call from Raiders an- nounce Bill

King: “He looks and throws ... intercepted by the Oakland Raiders Willie Brown at the 30, 40, 50 ... he’s going all the way! ... Old Man Willie! ... Touchdown Raiders!”

“As a player, coach, and executive, Willie served as a tremendous ambassador for the Raiders and football for more than 50 years,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

Brown