Larry Brown

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Lore & Background

Brown's professional journey began with high expectations following his 12th-round selection, yet he faced personal hurdles early on. He quit training camp for a few days and suffered a brief hospitalization thought to be appendicitis before proving his worth in the fourth game. Passing Manny Hendrix on the depth chart at right cornerback, he posted 68 tackles, two interceptions, and 18 passes defensed as an All-rookie. By 1992, he formed the league's youngest starting cornerback duo with Kevin Smith, leading the NFL with 11 passes defensed. His career peaked during the 1995 season when he recorded six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. In Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown earned MVP honors by making two critical second-half interceptions that the Cowboys converted into touchdowns to secure a victory and prevent a comeback.

In Their Own Story

The climax of Larry Brown's career arrived in Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Leading up to the game, he had tallied six interceptions during the season, returning two for scores. As the contest entered the second half with the game hanging in the balance, Brown made his defining plays. He intercepted the quarterback twice in the second half, moments that shifted the momentum entirely. The Cowboys successfully converted both turnovers into touchdowns, effectively shutting down any hope of a Steelers comeback. This performance earned him Super Bowl XXX MVP honors, a rare distinction for a cornerback. Following this peak, Brown left Dallas as a free agent immediately after his MVP performance, signing a lucrative five-year, $12.5 million contract with the Oakland Raiders on February 20, 1996.

Reader's Guide

After his Super Bowl MVP performance, Brown's career trajectory changed drastically. He signed a massive deal with the Oakland Raiders but was demoted to a backup role in 1997 and suspended four weeks for "conduct detrimental to the team." Waived on June 3, 1998, after playing only 12 games (one start) over two years, he became widely considered one of the NFL's biggest free agent busts. He briefly joined the Minnesota Vikings in June 1998 but was released with an injury settlement on August 30 due to a hamstring issue. Brown returned to the Dallas Cowboys on December 2, 1998, to provide depth, playing four final games before retiring. His career totals include 14 interceptions (210 return yards, two touchdowns) and two fumble recoveries.

Did You Know?

• Brown was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXX with two second-half interceptions that were converted into touchdowns.
• He began his collegiate career as a running back at Los Angeles Southwest College before being moved to cornerback in his sophomore season.
• In 1992, he and Kevin Smith formed the youngest starting cornerback duo in the league.
• Brown played himself in an episode of Married... with Children and appeared on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update in a 1996 episode hosted by Danny Aiello.
• His son Kameron Brown transferred from Texas A&M to UCLA for the 2021 season after announcing it on Twitter in November 2020.