Chad Brown
Encyclopedia
Chadwick Everett Brown is a former American football
linebacker
of the National Football League
. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Colorado
.
in the second round, and became an important part of the Blitzburgh
defense. Initially, he played at the inside linebacker position in the 3-4 with Levon Kirkland
, and then moving to the outside with the departure of Kevin Greene
, where he went to his first Pro Bowl
after the 1996 season. He started at right inside linebacker in Super Bowl XXX
for the Steelers, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys
. His success would continue with the Seattle Seahawks
, going to two more Pro Bowls in the 1990s.
He signed with the Patriots as a replacement for injured inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi
in 2005
. After several games of what was thought to be subpar performance at his new position, Brown spent most of the rest of the season only on special teams. In September of 2006
, after re-signing with the Patriots, Brown was released by the Patriots as one of their final cuts. He then signed with the Steelers and finished the season on their injured reserve
.
On July 19, 2007, he re-joined the Patriots but was released on September 1, 2007. On September 11, 2007 the Pats re-signed him, and released him again on October 10, 2007. Brown was resigned by the Patriots yet again on November 27, 2007 after linebacker Rosevelt Colvin
was placed on season-ending injured reserve. He was released on December 27, 2007, though not officially retired this was the last time Brown appeared on an NFL roster.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft
1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes football
The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,...
.
Professional career
Brown was initially drafted by the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the second round, and became an important part of the Blitzburgh
Blitzburgh
Blitzburgh is a nickname for the city of Pittsburgh, used mostly in the context of American football. The name references the 3-4 zone-blitz scheme created by longtime Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, which the team has used since LeBeau first became defensive coordinator in 1992...
defense. Initially, he played at the inside linebacker position in the 3-4 with Levon Kirkland
Levon Kirkland
Lorenzo Levon Kirkland is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League...
, and then moving to the outside with the departure of Kevin Greene
Kevin Greene
Kevin Darwin Greene is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League for 15 years and who retired after the 1999 NFL season...
, where he went to his first Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
after the 1996 season. He started at right inside linebacker in Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX was an American football game played on January 28, 1996 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona to decide the National Football League champion following the 1995 regular season...
for the Steelers, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. His success would continue with the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, going to two more Pro Bowls in the 1990s.
He signed with the Patriots as a replacement for injured inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi
Tedy Bruschi
Tedy Lacap Bruschi is a former professional American football linebacker. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
in 2005
2005 New England Patriots season
The 2005 New England Patriots season was the 36th season for the team in the National Football League and 46th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and the division title before losing in the playoffs to the Denver Broncos....
. After several games of what was thought to be subpar performance at his new position, Brown spent most of the rest of the season only on special teams. In September of 2006
2006 New England Patriots season
The 2006 New England Patriots season was the 37th season for the team in the National Football League and 47th season overall. They finished with a 12–4 record and a division title before losing to the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs....
, after re-signing with the Patriots, Brown was released by the Patriots as one of their final cuts. He then signed with the Steelers and finished the season on their injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
.
On July 19, 2007, he re-joined the Patriots but was released on September 1, 2007. On September 11, 2007 the Pats re-signed him, and released him again on October 10, 2007. Brown was resigned by the Patriots yet again on November 27, 2007 after linebacker Rosevelt Colvin
Rosevelt Colvin
Rosevelt Colvin, III is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft, he played college football at Purdue....
was placed on season-ending injured reserve. He was released on December 27, 2007, though not officially retired this was the last time Brown appeared on an NFL roster.