Charlie Brown (running back)
Encyclopedia
Charles Robert Brown (born October 16, 1945 in Jefferson City, Missouri
) is a former professional American football
running back
in the National Football League
. He attended the University of Missouri
. He went on to play with the New Orleans Saints
(1967
-1970
).
Brown was Mizzou's leading rusher in 1965 and '66 (led the Big Eight in '65), earning all-Big Eight honors in 1965, and honorable mention all-American in 1966. Brown was also a top kick returner, and is one of just two Tigers ever to win a conference rushing crown. On the track, he set Brewer Fieldhouse records in the 60-yard dash and low hurdles, won the 60 at the Michigan State relays in 1965, and was a member of Missouri's 1965 indoor track team that won the NCAA Championship. Brown was inducted into the Mizzou Hall of Fame for both football and track in 1995.
December 15, 1968, Brown was the first New Orleans Saint to return a punt for a touchdown. Brown’s historic run was recognized by NFL Films as one of the top ten runs (# 8) in NFL History. Incredibly, nine of the opposing 11 players get a piece of Brown—but known bring him down. It would be another 21 years before another Saint would return a punt for a touchdown. Following his career in the NFL, Brown would go on to play three additional seasons in the Canadian Football League.
Brown, along with several of his Saints teammates, appeared in the film Number One, which starred Charlton Heston as a fading New Orleans quarterback.
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
) is a former professional American football
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in 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 attended the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. He went on to play with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
(1967
1967 New Orleans Saints season
The 1967 New Orleans Saints season was the Saints inaugural season.-Expansion Draft:The Saints made a splash in the expansion draft by selecting Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung. Lombardi was distraught when the Saints selected Hornung in the draft. In later years, Hornung revealed that...
-1970
1970 New Orleans Saints season
The 1970 New Orleans Saints season was the team's fourth as a member of the National Football League. They failed to improve on their previous season's output of 5-9, winning only two games...
).
Brown was Mizzou's leading rusher in 1965 and '66 (led the Big Eight in '65), earning all-Big Eight honors in 1965, and honorable mention all-American in 1966. Brown was also a top kick returner, and is one of just two Tigers ever to win a conference rushing crown. On the track, he set Brewer Fieldhouse records in the 60-yard dash and low hurdles, won the 60 at the Michigan State relays in 1965, and was a member of Missouri's 1965 indoor track team that won the NCAA Championship. Brown was inducted into the Mizzou Hall of Fame for both football and track in 1995.
December 15, 1968, Brown was the first New Orleans Saint to return a punt for a touchdown. Brown’s historic run was recognized by NFL Films as one of the top ten runs (# 8) in NFL History. Incredibly, nine of the opposing 11 players get a piece of Brown—but known bring him down. It would be another 21 years before another Saint would return a punt for a touchdown. Following his career in the NFL, Brown would go on to play three additional seasons in the Canadian Football League.
Brown, along with several of his Saints teammates, appeared in the film Number One, which starred Charlton Heston as a fading New Orleans quarterback.