Biography

Willie Brown (March 21, 1942 – July 26, 2018) was an American college and professional football player and coach. A star player for the University of Southern California, he went on to play three seasons in the National Football League. After his playing career, he served as a coach for the Trojans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Brown played high school football at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where he won the California Interscholastic Federation player of the year award in 1959. Brown went on to play college football at the University of Southern California (USC). As he was a two-way player for the Trojans, he began as a tailback and kickoff returner but also played defensive back and flanker. In 1962, he led the Trojans, who went on to win the national championship, in rushing, kickoff returns and interceptions. In 1963, as the team captain, he led the team in receiving, scoring and interceptions. He was also a standout baseball player, who was a center fielder and shortstop for the university's baseball team that won the 1963 College World Series. In the 1964 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams selected him with the fourth pick of the third round, 32nd overall. He played two seasons with the Rams before finishing his playing career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He accumulated 133 rushing yards and 110 receiving yards in the NFL.