Ivory Lee Brown
Encyclopedia
Ivory Lee Brown is a former professional American football
running back in the National Football League
and World League of American Football
. He played for the Phoenix Cardinals of the NFL and the San Antonio Riders
of the WLAF. Brown is the uncle of Minnesota Vikings
running back Adrian Peterson.
out of Palestine, Texas
. As a senior in 1986, Brown rushed for 1800 yards and was the rated the second highest recruit in the state of Texas. Brown originally intended to sign with Texas A&M University
out of high school, but due to SAT
problems, he attended Tyler Junior College
instead. While at junior college, Brown was recruited to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
by head coach Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley
. Cooley had formerly coached NFL great Jerry Rice
at Mississippi Valley State University
, and had recently come to UAPB, which was an NAIA
school at the time. In Brown's first season with the Golden Lions, he led the NAIA in rushing with 1,465 yards, averaging 8.3 yards per carry.
, ahead of notable players such as Leon Lett
, and Keenan McCardell
. He would be placed on the team's developmental squad, and did not see any playing time during his rookie season.
of the fledgling World League of American Football
signed Ivory Lee Brown in 1992 to replace running back Ricky Blake who had signed with the Cowboys at the conclusion of the 1991 season. Brown played with the Riders in 1992 and won the league's rushing title with 767 yards, propelling him into the 1992 regular NFL season.
's unexpected pre-season hold-out. Brown played in seven games, starting five, during the 1992 NFL season
, but would not make the Cardinals roster in 1993 and later retired.
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 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...
and World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
. He played for the Phoenix Cardinals of the NFL and the San Antonio Riders
San Antonio Riders
The San Antonio Riders were a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played in the Alamo Stadium in 1991 and then were forced to move to Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, 45 miles northeast of San...
of the WLAF. Brown is the uncle of Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
running back Adrian Peterson.
College career
Ivory Lee Brown was a highly recruited running backRunning 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...
out of Palestine, Texas
Palestine, Texas
Palestine is a city in Anderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,598, and 18,458 in the 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Anderson County and is situated in East Texas...
. As a senior in 1986, Brown rushed for 1800 yards and was the rated the second highest recruit in the state of Texas. Brown originally intended to sign with Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
out of high school, but due to SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
problems, he attended Tyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College is a two-year community college in Tyler, Texas, United States. TJC is one of the largest community colleges in Texas, with an enrollment of more than 12,000 credit students each year with an additional 20,000 continuing education enrollments annually. Its West Campus includes...
instead. While at junior college, Brown was recruited to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a historically black university located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1873, it is the oldest HBCU and the second oldest public institution in the state of Arkansas . UAPB is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
by head coach Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley
Archie Cooley
Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley was the former college football coach at Mississippi Valley State University from 1980 to 1986, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff from 1987 to 1991, Norfolk State University 1993, and Paul Quinn College from 2000 to 2006...
. Cooley had formerly coached NFL great Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
at Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University is a historically black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, in the United States. MVSU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund....
, and had recently come to UAPB, which was an NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
school at the time. In Brown's first season with the Golden Lions, he led the NAIA in rushing with 1,465 yards, averaging 8.3 yards per carry.
NFL
Brown was drafted by the Phoenix Cardinals in the seventh round (171st pick overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 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 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
, ahead of notable players such as Leon Lett
Leon Lett
Leon Lett, Jr. , nicknamed The Big Cat, is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos , after playing college football at Emporia State University. Lett was a two-time Pro Bowler, with selections in 1994 and...
, and Keenan McCardell
Keenan McCardell
Keenan Wayne McCardell is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and current wide receivers coach for the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Redskins in the 12th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
. He would be placed on the team's developmental squad, and did not see any playing time during his rookie season.
WLAF
The San Antonio RidersSan Antonio Riders
The San Antonio Riders were a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played in the Alamo Stadium in 1991 and then were forced to move to Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, 45 miles northeast of San...
of the fledgling World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
signed Ivory Lee Brown in 1992 to replace running back Ricky Blake who had signed with the Cowboys at the conclusion of the 1991 season. Brown played with the Riders in 1992 and won the league's rushing title with 767 yards, propelling him into the 1992 regular NFL season.
Return to the NFL
Brown emerged as a potential starter due to running back Johnny JohnsonJohnny Johnson
Johnny Johnson may refer to:* Johnnie Johnson , RAF pilot* Johnny Johnson , Major League pitcher* Johnny Johnson , American football player* Johnny Johnson , a musical by Kurt Weill...
's unexpected pre-season hold-out. Brown played in seven games, starting five, during the 1992 NFL season
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
, but would not make the Cardinals roster in 1993 and later retired.