Nebraska legend, NFL Hall of Fame tackle Bob Brown dies at 81

Bob Brown, the legendary former Nebraska and NFL offensive tackle known as “the most aggressive lineman that ever played,” according to John Madden, has died. He was 81.

Brown was a Hall of Fame NFL player, earning first team All-Pro honors five times in his career while being a six-time Pro Bowler. At Nebraska, Brown was a star guard and one of the best linemen in the entire country, earning unanimous All-American honors and being named the offensive lineman of the year in 1963.

He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2004. At Nebraska, his number, 64, is retired — the honor was bestowed the same year he entered the pro football Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

During his time at Nebraska, he earned the nickname “Boomer.”

Despite his aggression on the field — according to an obit from the Hall of Fame, he once told NFL Films that “I didn’t try to finesse guys, I just tried to beat up on them for 60 minutes.” — Brown was known for his soft spoken demeanor off the field.

Brown also held the great distinction of being a Top 5 pick in two separate leagues: The AFL and NFL. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was also selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1964 AFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, but opted to play in the NFL.

During his NFL career, Brown eventually ended up in Oakland, where he played for legendary head coach John Madden. Madden once told NFL Films a (possibly apocryphal) story about Brown and his arrival to the Raiders.

“We got Bob, and the first day no one knows Bob Brown. They don’t know him personally. They just know his reputation. He walks out of the locker room, and he walks all the way up to the other end where the goal posts are, and he hits the goal post with his forearm. Phoom! Crack! And the whole goal post goes right down,” Madden said. “… He turned around and walked off the field.”

Madden is the man who dubbed Brown the most aggressive who ever played. He also coached Brown on an offensive line that, in 1971, featured five future Hall of Fame players. Alongside Brown played Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Jim Otto and Ron Mix.

Brown was a member of the NFL’s all-decade team for the 1960s for his accomplishments.