Brown follows in late father's footsteps
Orlando Brown tried to start his football career in Baltimore in third grade.
Living in the city while his dad, the late Orlando “Zeus” Brown, played offensive tackle for the Ravens, Brown joined a peewee football team unbeknown to Zeus.
When his dad found out two weeks later, Brown’s Baltimore football career was over.
But with the No. 83 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens are giving the former Oklahoma left tackle another chance to play football in the city where he grew up and the city where his late father earned a reputation as a fierce lineman.
And, he’s bringing a friend.
OU tight end Mark Andrews was selected by the Ravens just three picks later in the third round, hearing his name called with the No. 86 pick.
“It’s an incredible blessed opportunity to be able to play here and play for a team that I grew up loving,” Brown told the Ravens after being selected.
Though Brown went to high school outside Atlanta, he spent most of his formative years in Baltimore, watching his dad become one of the highest paid offensive linemen in the NFL.
Zeus played for the Ravens from 1996-98 and from 2003-05. After he retired, he stayed in the Maryland area.
Though Zeus died of diabetic ketoacidosis September 2011, he’s been a major motivator in Brown’s life and college career. As a tribute to his dad, Brown often wore a white bandanna under his helmet.
During his time at Oklahoma, Brown was vocal about his intentions of following in his dad’s footsteps and reaching the NFL. Over four years, he transformed himself from a 400-pound freshman to a first-team AllAmerican.
But Brown’s journey from college to the NFL Draft wasn’t smooth. After a dismal NFL Combine where he ran a 5.85 40-yard dash and did only 14 reps on the bench press, Brown slid down the draft boards.
But he kept the faith and rebounded with a stronger performance at OU’s pro day to rehabilitate his stock.
“I've had bad plays and come back and had great games," he said after OU's Pro Day. "I'm the type of person that takes criticism like that and uses it as fuel."
On his trip to Baltimore during the pre-draft visits, Brown gave general manager Ozzie Newsome a note — something that’s stuck with Newsome ever since.
“When he came in, he just brought a light to the building while he was here,” Newsome told reporters Friday night. “He wrote a note, that if he was fortunate enough to have the chance to come and play for us, it would be very special. That note didn’t have anything to do with us picking him today, but I think that speaks about the kid.
“I’ve gotten some texts from other people who were working in the organization when his father was here or with us in Cleveland, and they all have just acknowledged what a great thing that has happened. We’ll just see how it plays out.”
When Zeus finally allowed his son to play football in sixth grade, his son made a promise to him.
He would be a 10-year veteran in the NFL and become a Hall of Famer.
Those goals are still in the distance, but he’ll start his climb where his dad left off.