Hall of Fame
Position: Guard
Years: 1961-1963
Place of Birth: Cleveland, OH
Date of Birth: Dec 08, 1941
Place of Death: Oakland, California
Date of Death: June 16, 2023
Jersey Number: 64
Height: 6-5
Weight: 260
High School: East Technical (Cleveland, OH)
Bob Brown was a big man for his time in college football, and he earned himself the nickname "The Boomer." He stood 6-5 and weighed 260.
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In his junior year, 1962, he was named all-conference guard. His pass interception with one minute to play enabled Nebraska to beat Miami in the Gotham Bowl. In his senior campaign, 1963, he was selected as a unanimous All-America, becoming the first Black Cornhusker to earn All-America status. Nebraska had a 10-1 season and won its first conference championship since 1940.
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In the Orange Bowl against Auburn, Brown's crushing block, which carried his man eight yards down field, opened the way for Dennis Claridge to go 68 yards for a touchdown. This was the second play of the game and helped Nebraska to a 13-7 victory. On defense, he played linebacker and had 49 tackles, a pass interception, and two fumble recoveries.
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Brown went to the pros, played offensive tackle, and was all-pro seven times. He played with the Philadelphia Eagles 1964-1968, Los Angles Rams 1969-1970, and Oakland Raiders 1971-1973.
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Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004, and Nebraska retired his No. 64 the same year.
