Raiders star Willie Brown dead at 78
WILLIE BROWN, 1940 - 2019
The cornerback played 12 seasons with the Raiders in a Hall of Fame career.
Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown, who provided the iconic play of the Oakland Raiders’ first Super Bowl title, died Tuesday. He was 78.
The Raiders and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Brown’s death but didn’t reveal a cause. He had been dealing with cancer.
“The entire Hall of Fame family mourns the loss of a great man,” Hall of Fame President David Baker said in a statement. “Willie Brown was the epitome of the Raiders motto of ‘commitment to excellence’ that was integral to the team’s sustained success. He embodied virtues like passion, integrity, perseverance and always led by example. His character, on and off the field, made all those around him better.”
Raiders owner Al Davis acquired Brown in a trade from Denver in 1967.
Brown went on to have a brilliant career over 12 years with Oakland, highlighted by his 75-yard interception return for a touchdown against Minnesota that helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory, following the 1976 season.
After his playing career, he was a Raiders assistant coach from 1979 to 1988 and later held a front office job with the team. He also coached at Cal State Long Beach and at Jordan High School in Los Angeles.
“His legendary performance on the field changed the way the cornerback position was played and his valued guidance as a coach, mentor and administrator permeated the organization and touched countless individuals both on and off the field,” the Raiders said in a statement. “Willie’s loss will leave a tremendous void, but his leadership and presence will always be a major part of the fabric of the Raiders Family.”
Brown intercepted 54 passes, was a first-team AllPro five times in the AFL and NFL and made the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1984.
His most memorable play came in Super Bowl XI against the Vikings on Jan. 9, 1977. With the Raiders leading 26-7 in the fourth quarter, Brown intercepted a Fran Tarkenton pass and raced for the score, prompting a now-famous radio call from Raiders announcer 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!”
Brown retired two seasons later. After coaching for the Raiders in Oakland and Los Angeles, he was head coach at Cal State Long Beach in 1991, and coached at Jordan High in 1994. He returned to the Raiders as director of staff development after they moved back to Oakland in 1995.
In more recent years, Brown would announce the Raiders’ picks during the annual NFL draft.
“Going to miss you Willie! I’ll never forget when you called my name on that stage to welcome me into the Raider family 4 life! Prayers to his family,” Raiders quarterback Derek Carr wrote on Twitter.
William Ferdie Brown was born in Yazoo City, Miss., on Dec. 2, 1940.
He played his college career at Grambling under legendary coach Eddie Robinson. He was undrafted out of college, and was cut by the Houston Oilers in his first training camp in 1963.
He then signed with Denver, became a starter midway through his rookie year and was an AFL All-Pro in his second season.