Former Eagles DE Greg Brown Dies at Age 63

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistSeptember 27, 2020

Halfback Billy Sims (20) of the Detroit Lions is tackled by Greg Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles for a five yard loss in the second quarter of their NFL exhibition game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 5, 1983. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

Peter Morgan/Associated Press

Former Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Greg Brown died Saturday, according to Ray Didinger of the team's website. He was 63.

Brown played in Philadelphia for six seasons (1981-86), posting 50.5 sacks in that time, which ranks sixth in team history.

Philadelphia Eagles @Eagles
The Eagles are saddened to learn of the passing of Greg Brown.

Merrill Reese @mreeseeagles
So sorry to learn of the passing of former Eagles defensive end Greg Brown. Nobody worked harder than Greg to carve out a spot on an NFL team. Off the field he was was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. My condolences to his wife Valerie and his family.

Harold Carmichael @lookitin
Our Condolences to Brown Family. Rest in Peace Greg.

He then spent two years in Atlanta, posting two sacks in that time.

He was a force between the 1983 and '86 seasons, posting 46.5 sacks, including a career-high 16 in 1984. Not bad numbers for an undrafted defensive end who was working in construction out of college when his former coach at Eastern Illinois, John Teerlink, bumped into him in 1981.

When Brown told Teerlink—then a coach at Illinois—that football hadn't worked out for him, Teerlink made a call to former Illinois assistant John Rehfield, who was working in the Eagles personnel department, per Didinger. Because Teerlink had played five seasons in the NFL, the Eagles trusted his recommendation. They signed Brown and invited him to training camp ahead of the 1981 season.

While Brown weighed just 220 pounds when he first reported to Philly, he impressed the coaches with his quickness off the edge. But Brown put on more muscle and weight and made the team, carving out a very nice career for himself.

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