Troy Brown

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Brown attended Blackville–Hilda High School in Blackville, South Carolina. He was discouraged from playing football, as he was thought to be too small, starting at the size of 5'6", 135 lbs. Still, he lettered in football and track and field. His high school football team won a state championship in 1988 with a 14–1 record. He attended Lees–McRae College before it became a 4-year college, from 1989–1990. He then played for Marshall University from 1991–1992, where he was a standout wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner, leading Division I-AA in both kickoff and punt return average in 1991. The following year, Marshall claimed its first national championship with Brown as its primary wide receiver and returner. In the championship game, Brown sealed the win by intercepting a Hail Mary pass. His career kickoff return average (29.69 yards per return) still stands as an NCAA record, as do his four kickoff returns for touchdowns. He scored one touchdown for every eight times he touched the football. In 2006, Brown was given a distinguished alumni award by Marshall.

In Their Own Story

In the 2001 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown delivered a performance that defined his clutch reputation. He returned a crucial punt for a touchdown to provide the winning margin and later scooped up a blocked field goal attempt, latching onto a lateral pass from Antwan Harris to complete a second special teams touchdown. That season culminated in his first Pro Bowl selection after recording 101 catches for 1,199 yards. Another defining moment occurred during the 2006 AFC Divisional Playoff against the San Diego Chargers; with the Patriots trailing 21–13 facing fourth and five, Brown made a "quick mental switch" from offense to defense, ripping a fumbled interception out of Marlon McCree's grasp to set up the game-tying score. These plays cemented his legacy as a player who could impact every phase of the game.

Reader's Guide

Brown was drafted by the Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL draft (198th overall). He was waived in the 1994 pre-season but re-signed on October 19, 1994. He started seeing time as a wide receiver in 1995. In 2001, he set the franchise record for receptions (101) and earned his only Pro Bowl trip. He is the Patriots' all-time leading punt returner (252 returns, 2,625 yards, 3 touchdowns) and third all-time in receptions (557) and receiving yards (6,366). He holds the Super Bowl record for most punt returns in a career (8). He is the only player in NFL history with at least 550 receptions, 250 punt returns, and an interception. Brown was released on March 1, 2005, for salary cap reasons but signed a new contract on May 23, 2005. He retired on September 25, 2008. He began coaching in an unofficial capacity with the Patriots in 2019, officially joined the coaching staff in 2020 as running backs/kick returners coach, became wide receivers/kick returners coach in 2021, moved to a skills development role in 2024, and was hired by the New York Giants as an offensive assistant in 2025.

Did You Know?

• Brown is the only player in NFL history with at least 550 receptions, 250 punt returns, and an interception.
• He still holds the NCAA record for career kickoff return average (29.69 yards per return) and four kickoff return touchdowns.
• In the 2001 AFC Championship Game, Brown returned a punt for a touchdown and also scooped up a blocked field goal and lateraled to Antwan Harris for another special teams touchdown.
• Brown played emergency defense in 2004, ranking second on the team in interceptions with three.
• He has a cameo in the 2012 film The Three Stooges alongside Jerod Mayo.