Bob Brown, a Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle, passed away Friday night in Oakland, California. Cecilia, Brown’s wife, said he passed away peacefully at a rehabilitation center surrounded by loved ones. He was committed to the facility in April after suffering a stroke. Brown had an age of 81 years.
Brown, the No. 2 overall selection in the 1964 NFL Draft, spent ten seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Oakland Raiders. (He was also drafted No. 4 overall by the Denver Broncos of the AFL but chose to play for the Philadelphia Eagles.)
He was selected to six Pro Bowls, five All-Pro first teams, three All-Pro second teams, the NFL’s 1960s All-Decade Team, and three times as NFL/NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Still, Brown took more than three decades after his retirement to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Jim Porter, president of the Hall of Fame, issued the following statement regarding Brown’s passing.
“Bob Brown demonstrated different personalities on and off the field. On the field, he was as fierce an opponent as any defensive linemen or linebacker ever faced. He used every tactic and technique — and sometimes brute force — to crush the will of the person across the line from him. And took great pride in doing so.
“Yet off the field, he demonstrated a quiet, soft-spoken and caring nature that his son, Robert Jr., captured eloquently when he presented his dad for enshrinement in 2004. The Hall extends its thoughts and prayers to CeeCee and Robert Jr. for their loss.”
Source: CBSSports