Hall of Fame offensive lineman Brown dies at 81

Jun 17, 2023, 08:00 PM ET

Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bob Brown, labeled the “most aggressive lineman that ever played” by John Madden, died Friday night at the age of 81.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced his death Saturday. Brown was inducted into the HOF in 2004.

“On the field, he was as fierce an opponent as any defensive linemen or linebacker ever faced,” Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said in a statement Saturday. “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.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is saddened to share the news that the Class of 2004’s Bob Brown has passed away at age 81. #HOFForever

More info: https://t.co/7Du6xxm10d pic.twitter.com/ydxelA13rT

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) June 17, 2023

Brown suffered a stroke in April.

Brown was a five-time All-Pro who was drafted No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1964. He started 124 of 126 games for the Eagles (1964-68), Los Angeles Rams (1969-70) and the Raiders in Oakland (1971-73), where he played for Madden.

“Bob Brown played offense with a defensive guy’s personality,” Madden once said. “He believed that he could hit you with his forearm and take a quarter out of you. In other words, if he really hit you, you wouldn’t play hard until the next quarter.

“Bob was the most aggressive lineman that ever played.”

Brown earned six Pro Bowl nods. Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

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