The Detroit Lions and their fan base are mourning the loss of one of the legends in franchise history. The great defensive lineman Roger Brown died at the age of 84.
“Roger Brown will always hold a special place in our team’s history,” Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp said in a statement. “A member of the Lions’ esteemed ‘Fearsome Foursome’ of the 1960s with Alex Karras, Darris McCord and Sam Williams, Roger’s career accomplishments solidify his legacy alongside some of the all-time greats of our game.
“… We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Kay, and the entire Brown family.”
Brown played for the Lions from 1960-66. He finished his NFL career with three seasons as a Los Angeles Rams.
While sack stats were not officially recorded during the years he played, Profootballreference.com shows Brown with 78.5 in his career.
In 1962, Brown helped the Lions’ defense record a franchise-record 11 sacks against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day. Brown recorded seven of those sacks that day against Packers Hall of Fame QB Bart Starr.
Lions Legend Roger Brown
1937-2021 pic.twitter.com/BbB0E0DrN8— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 17, 2021
He was chosen by Detroit in the fourth round of the 1960 NFL draft out of Maryland Eastern-Shore.
Brown was inducted into the Pride of the Lions in 2018, the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2015, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
