Troy Brown
Encyclopedia
Troy Fitzgerald Brown is a former NFL wide receiver
, cornerback
and punt returner
in the National Football League
. He was drafted by the New England Patriots
in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Marshall
. On May 11, 2010, Brown was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame
.
Brown played his entire 15-year career with the Patriots. He earned three Super Bowl ring
s with the team; he played on five of the six Patriots teams to reach the Super Bowl, and he retired as the franchise leader in career receptions.
in Blackville, South Carolina
, where he lettered
in football and track and field
. His high school team won a state championship in 1988 with a 14-1 record.
, leading the Division I-AA in both kickoff and punt return average in 1991, a year in which he and quarterback
Todd Donnan tied a record by combining for a 99-yard pass play against Virginia Military Institute
. The following year
, Marshall claimed its first national championship with Brown as its primary wide receiver and returner. In the championship game, Brown sealed the win by intercepting a Hail Mary
Youngstown State
pass in the final seconds of the game.
His career kickoff return average (29.69 yards per return) still stands as an NCAA record, as do his four kickoff returns for touchdowns. He scored a touchdown every eight times he touched the football.
In 2006, Brown was given the Distinguished Alumni award by his alma mater.
(198th overall). He was waived as a final cut in the 1993
preseason but was re-signed on October 19, 1993. In 1997 he recorded 41 catches for 607 yards and 6 touchdown
s despite being behind both Terry Glenn
and Shawn Jefferson
on the depth chart at receiver as well as competing with Ben Coates
and Vincent Brisby
for catches. In 1998
, he resumed his duties as a punt returner.
His first year as a starter was 2000 with 83 catches for 944 yards and 4 touchdowns. In 2001
he, alongside Tom Brady
, led the Patriots to their first ever Super Bowl
championship, recording 101 catches during the season for 1,199 yards and 5 touchdowns, setting the franchise record for receptions and earning his first trip to a Pro Bowl
. He also returned 29 punts for 413 yards and 2 touchdowns, giving him a league leading 14.2 yards per return average. During the AFC Championship Game
at Heinz Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers
in the playoffs
that season, Brown returned a crucial punt for a touchdown which provided the winning margin, adding to the two he returned for touchdowns during the regular season. He also scooped up a blocked field goal attempt in that game, and made a lateral pass to teammate Antwan Harris, which completed a second special teams touchdown. In 2002, he recorded 97 receptions for 890 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2003
, he had 40 catches for 472 yards, helping his team back to Super Bowl XXXVIII
.
In 2004
, he had only 17 receptions, but contributed in what was originally an emergency role on defense, ranking second on the team in interceptions with three. He was topped in this category only by Eugene Wilson. Further demonstrating his versatility, during the 2006
preseason he lined up as an emergency quarterback
; when questioned as to why Brown had appeared there, the head coach
of the Patriots, Bill Belichick
, joked that he had lined Brown up there "to develop his legend".
Brown was released by the Patriots
on March 1, 2005 for salary cap
reasons, but he signed a new contract with them on May 23, 2005. He signed despite a better financial deal from the New Orleans Saints
. In the 2005 season, he recorded 39 receptions for 466 yards.
On July 17, 2007, Brown reached an agreement with the New England Patriots for a 15th season, making him the second longest-playing Patriot behind Steve Grogan
. On July 28, he was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but was activated on November 27.
In addition to playing offense and defense with success, Brown is the Patriots' all-time leading punt returner
with 252 returns for 2,625 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is first all-time in Patriots history in receptions (557) and second all-time in receiving yards (6,366).
game, when the Patriots met the favored San Diego Chargers
. With 5 minutes left in the game, the Patriots were down 21-13 and facing 4th and 5. Tom Brady, known for his playoff poise, uncharacteristically threw his third interception to the Chargers' Marlon McCree
. Brown, making what teammate Tedy Bruschi
described as a "quick mental switch" from offensive to defensive player, instinctively ripped the ball out of McCree's grasp. The fumble was subsequently recovered by the Patriots Reche Caldwell
, giving them a new set of downs. New England went on to tie the score with a touchdown and a two point conversion, and then won the game on a 31-yard field goal. Brown also caught 5 passes for 39 yards in the game.
reported that the Patriots would not offer him a contract for the 2008 season. On September 25, 2008, Brown officially retired from professional football during a press conference alongside Patriots owner Robert Kraft
and head coach Bill Belichick
. He finished his playing career as the all-time leader for the New England Patriots in receptions with 557.
, where a portion of West Virginia Route 10 was designated Troy Brown Way. Brown and his wife, Kimberly, have two sons, Sir'mon and SaanJay.
He works with various charities through the Bartrum Brown Football Camp (www.bartrumandbrown.com) and Troy Brown Fantasy Football Camp (www.TroyBrownFantasyFootball.org).
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
and punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft
1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Marshall
Marshall Thundering Herd football
The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision...
. On May 11, 2010, Brown was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
Brown played his entire 15-year career with the Patriots. He earned three Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
s with the team; he played on five of the six Patriots teams to reach the Super Bowl, and he retired as the franchise leader in career receptions.
Early years
Brown attended Blackville-Hilda High SchoolBlackville-Hilda High School
The Blackville-Hilda High School shooting was a school shooting that occurred on October 12, 1995 at Blackville-Hilda High School in Blackville, South Carolina, United States. The gunman, 16-year-old Anthony Sincino, was a student at Blackville-Hilda High School who was suspended from school at the...
in Blackville, South Carolina
Blackville, South Carolina
Blackville is a town in Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,973 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Blackville is located at ....
, where he lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in football and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. His high school team won a state championship in 1988 with a 14-1 record.
College career
In college, Brown was a standout wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner for Marshall UniversityMarshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
, leading the Division I-AA in both kickoff and punt return average in 1991, a year in which he and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Todd Donnan tied a record by combining for a 99-yard pass play against Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
. The following year
1992 in sports
1992 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup* Men's overall season champion: Paul Accola, Switzerland* Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...
, Marshall claimed its first national championship with Brown as its primary wide receiver and returner. In the championship game, Brown sealed the win by intercepting a Hail Mary
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
Youngstown State
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
pass in the final seconds of the game.
His career kickoff return average (29.69 yards per return) still stands as an NCAA record, as do his four kickoff returns for touchdowns. He scored a touchdown every eight times he touched the football.
In 2006, Brown was given the Distinguished Alumni award by his alma mater.
Professional career
Brown was drafted by the Patriots out of Marshall in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL Draft1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
(198th overall). He was waived as a final cut in the 1993
1993 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1993 season with a record of five wins and eleven losses, and finished fourth in the AFC East division.-Season summary:Amid year-long rumors that the team would move to St...
preseason but was re-signed on October 19, 1993. In 1997 he recorded 41 catches for 607 yards and 6 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s despite being behind both Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
and Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
on the depth chart at receiver as well as competing with Ben Coates
Ben Coates
Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League and former CIAA football coach and former NFL tight ends coach. Coates didn't play football until his senior year of high school, and was a multi-sport player at Livingstone College located in Salisbury,...
and Vincent Brisby
Vincent Brisby
Vincent Cole Brisby , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 193 lb...
for catches. In 1998
1998 New England Patriots season
The 1998 New England Patriots season was the 29th season for the team in the National Football League and 39th season overall. They finished with a 9–7 record, good for fourth place in the division but also a playoff berth; they lost in the first round to the Jacksonville Jaguars.In the offseason,...
, he resumed his duties as a punt returner.
His first year as a starter was 2000 with 83 catches for 944 yards and 4 touchdowns. In 2001
2001 New England Patriots season
The 2001 New England Patriots season was the 32nd season for the team in the National Football League and 42nd season overall. They finished with an 11–5 record and a division title before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXVI....
he, alongside Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
, led the Patriots to their first ever Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
championship, recording 101 catches during the season for 1,199 yards and 5 touchdowns, setting the franchise record for receptions and earning his first trip to a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
. He also returned 29 punts for 413 yards and 2 touchdowns, giving him a league leading 14.2 yards per return average. During the AFC Championship Game
AFC Championship Game
The American Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the American...
at Heinz Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2001-02
The NFL playoffs following the 2001 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVI.For the first time, the NFL scheduled prime time playoff games for the first two rounds in an attempt to attract more television viewers. Saturday wild card and divisional playoff games were moved from 12:30 p.m. and 4:00...
that season, Brown returned a crucial punt for a touchdown which provided the winning margin, adding to the two he returned for touchdowns during the regular season. He also scooped up a blocked field goal attempt in that game, and made a lateral pass to teammate Antwan Harris, which completed a second special teams touchdown. In 2002, he recorded 97 receptions for 890 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2003
2003 New England Patriots season
The 2003 New England Patriots season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League and 44th season overall. They finished with a league-best 14–2 record before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXVIII....
, he had 40 catches for 472 yards, helping his team back to Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
.
In 2004
2004 New England Patriots season
The 2004 New England Patriots season was the 35th season for the team in the National Football League and 45th season overall. They finished with their second straight 14–2 record before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXIX, their third Super Bowl victory in four years.Following a Super Bowl...
, he had only 17 receptions, but contributed in what was originally an emergency role on defense, ranking second on the team in interceptions with three. He was topped in this category only by Eugene Wilson. Further demonstrating his versatility, during the 2006
2006 New England Patriots season
The 2006 New England Patriots season was the 37th season for the team in the National Football League and 47th season overall. They finished with a 12–4 record and a division title before losing to the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs....
preseason he lined up as an emergency quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
; when questioned as to why Brown had appeared there, the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Patriots, Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
, joked that he had lined Brown up there "to develop his legend".
Brown was released by the Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on March 1, 2005 for salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
reasons, but he signed a new contract with them on May 23, 2005. He signed despite a better financial deal from the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. In the 2005 season, he recorded 39 receptions for 466 yards.
On July 17, 2007, Brown reached an agreement with the New England Patriots for a 15th season, making him the second longest-playing Patriot behind Steve Grogan
Steve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
. On July 28, he was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but was activated on November 27.
In addition to playing offense and defense with success, Brown is the Patriots' all-time leading punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
with 252 returns for 2,625 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is first all-time in Patriots history in receptions (557) and second all-time in receiving yards (6,366).
2006 AFC Divisional Playoffs
A memorable moment for Brown came in a 2006 AFC Divisional PlayoffNFL playoffs, 2006-07
The National Football League playoffs for the 2006 season began on January 6, 2007 and led up to Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.-AFC: Indianapolis Colts 23, Kansas City Chiefs 8:...
game, when the Patriots met the favored San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. With 5 minutes left in the game, the Patriots were down 21-13 and facing 4th and 5. Tom Brady, known for his playoff poise, uncharacteristically threw his third interception to the Chargers' Marlon McCree
Marlon McCree
Marlon Tarron McCree is an American football safety who is currently a free agent, as well as a mentor and coach. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the Seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
. Brown, making what teammate Tedy Bruschi
Tedy Bruschi
Tedy Lacap Bruschi is a former professional American football linebacker. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
described as a "quick mental switch" from offensive to defensive player, instinctively ripped the ball out of McCree's grasp. The fumble was subsequently recovered by the Patriots Reche Caldwell
Reche Caldwell
Donald Reche Caldwell, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for six seasons in the early 2000s...
, giving them a new set of downs. New England went on to tie the score with a touchdown and a two point conversion, and then won the game on a 31-yard field goal. Brown also caught 5 passes for 39 yards in the game.
Retirement
On March 13, 2008, The Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
reported that the Patriots would not offer him a contract for the 2008 season. On September 25, 2008, Brown officially retired from professional football during a press conference alongside Patriots owner Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
and head coach Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
. He finished his playing career as the all-time leader for the New England Patriots in receptions with 557.
Personal
Brown currently resides in Huntington, West VirginiaHuntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
, where a portion of West Virginia Route 10 was designated Troy Brown Way. Brown and his wife, Kimberly, have two sons, Sir'mon and SaanJay.
He works with various charities through the Bartrum Brown Football Camp (www.bartrumandbrown.com) and Troy Brown Fantasy Football Camp (www.TroyBrownFantasyFootball.org).