| No. 59 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | (1955-06-01)June 1, 1955 (age 70) Palestine, Texas, U.S. | ||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||
| Listed weight | 223 lb (101 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Palestine | ||||
| College | Houston | ||||
| NFL draft | 1977: 4th round, 108th overall pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Guy Brown, III (born June 1, 1955) is an American former professionalfootball player who was alinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL) for theDallas Cowboys. He playedcollege football for theHouston Cougars.
Brown attendedPalestine High School. He only played one year ofhigh school football, because his mother did not allow him to play before his senior season.[1] He was afullback andrunning back, on a team that finished with a 1-9 record.
He accepted a football scholarship from theUniversity of Houston. As a freshman he played attight end anddefensive end. He was injured during most of his sophomore (knee) and junior (shoulder) seasons.
As a senior, he focused on playing the "standup"left defensive end position and contributed to the team winning theSouthwest Conference championship.
Brown was selected by theDallas Cowboys in the fourth round (108th overall) of the1977 NFL draft, who saw him as an above average athlete and wanted to play him atoutside linebacker. As a rookie, he was considered the fastest defensive player on the team and also set the rookie power clean lift record of 315 pounds.[2]
In1979, Brown was slowed by a groin injury. In1980, he had a chance to earn the startingstrongside linebacker job afterThomas "Hollywood" Henderson was waived, but was passed over byMike Hegman.[3] Hegman dislocated his elbow in the wild card playoff game against theLos Angeles Rams, which gave Brown a chance to start in the next two playoff games. He was one of the corespecial teams players during his first four seasons.
In1981, Hegman fractured his arm in the season opener, giving Brown the chance to start six games atstrongside linebacker.
In1982, Brown would eventually earn theweakside linebacker full-time starter job, whenD. D. Lewis retired.
After experiencing recurring neck problems and visiting with doctors,[4] Brown was subsequently diagnosed with a narrow spinal column condition (cervical spinal stenosis), which forced him to announce his early retirement on July 11,1983.[5] He was replaced in the starting lineup byAnthony Dickerson.
Brown was the oldest son in a family of 10 siblings. He works in the fire protection industry and founded the company Guy Brown Fire & Safety, Inc. in 1982.[6]
Brown was one of the plaintiffs in aclass action lawsuit against theNational Football League, alleging that it failed to adequately respond to the serious health risks posed byconcussions and other repeatedhead traumas suffered during games.