Athletes - Willie Brown

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	Athletes - Willie Brown

William Ferdie Brown (Born December 2, 1940, in Yazoo City, Mississippi) is a retired American Football cornerback and is currently on the staff of the Oakland Raiders.

Playing career

Willie Brown played collegiate football at Grambling University and was not drafted by any professional team after leaving school in 1963. He was signed by the Houston Oilers of the AFL but was cut from the team during training camp. He was then signed by the Denver Broncos and became a starter by the middle of his rookie season. He won All-AFL honors in his second season and played in the AFL All-Star Game, recording 9 interceptions for 144 yards.

In 1967 Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders and would spend the remainder of his career there. He served as defensive captain for 10 of his 12 years with the team. Starting in 1967, he was also named to seven straight Pro Bowl squads (AFL & NFL). Perhaps Brown's most memorable moment as a Raider came during Super Bowl XI, when he intercepted a Fran Tarkenton pass and returned it a Super Bowl-record 75 yards for a touchdown. His record would stand for 29 years until it was broken by Kelly Herndon's 76-yard interception return in Super Bowl XL.

Willie Brown retired after the 1978 season, and finished his Raiders career with 39 interceptions, tied for first all-time on the team. Overall, he finished his 16 AFL/NFL seasons with 54 interceptions, which he returned for 472 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also recovered 3 fumbles.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 28, 1984, his first year of eligibility.

Coaching career

Brown served as a defensive backfield coach for the Raiders from 1979-88. He also had stints as the head at Long Beach State in 1991 and L.A. Jordan High School in 1994. In 1995 he returned to the Raiders as the Director of Staff Development.

Awards

All-AFL Team (1964)
Five AFL All-Star Games (1964-65, 1967-69)
Named to the All-Time AFL Team in 1969
Four NFL Pro Bowls (1970-73)
Named to the AFL-NFL 25-year All-Star team
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984
Inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1992
Inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1994

Records

Previously held Super Bowl record for longest interception (75 yards, Super Bowl XI), now held by Seattle Seahawks Cornerback Kelly Herndon (76 yards, Super Bowl XL)
Oakland Raiders franchise leader for interceptions (39, t-1st)

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