Grambling State’s own Willie Brown is regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in National Football League history. Brown was apart of some excellent Oakland Raiders teams. During his tenure with the Raiders, they 128-35.Brown was born on Dec. 2, 1940, in Yazoo City, Miss. After his stellar career at Grambling State ended in 1963, he went undrafted. However, he signed with the Houston Oilers, but was released after camp.
He got a second chance when he was signed by the Denver Broncos in the same year. There he started to make a name for himself.
During his four-year stay in Denver, he had 15 interceptions, was an All Pro twice (1964 and 1965) and played in two Pro Bowls. In 1967, Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders.
In his 12-year stint with the Raiders, he solidified himself as a legend. During his time in Oakland, he had 39 interceptions. But his famous most interception came in the Super Bowl against the Minnesota Vikings, where he returned a Fran Tarkenton pass 75 yards for a touchdown (second longest in Super Bowl history), and Oakland defeated the Vikings 32-14.
After his illustrious 16 career concluded, Brown amassed an impressive 54 interceptions and was a nine-time All Pro selection.
On July 28, 1984, he was enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, the highest honor any NFL football player can ever achieve. He was elected in his first year of eligibility.
He is one of four players from Grambling State to be in the Hall of Fame; the others are Willie Davis, Charlie Joiner and Buck Buchanan.
Today, Willie Brown is in his 13th coaching season with the Oakland Raiders, where he serves as the defensive backs coach, and he also serves as the Director of Squad Development.