(ThyBlackMan.com) As many sports fans know, the NFL is celebrating its 100th season this NFL season. There has been a season-long celebration of fans, historic players, historic teams, and great moments in NFL history. One of the iconic images for NFL Films is the 75-yard interception return for a touchdown by Oakland Raiders cornerback Willie Brown in Super Bowl XI as he ran straight towards the camera with both eyes and a face full of determination. Sadly, Willie Brown passed away in late October and he leaves behind a fantastic football resume and an awesome tradition that should live on in NFL Draft history.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Brown was one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history and one of the best of the Raiders franchise which includes former All-Pros like Lester Hayes, Mike Haynes, Charles Woodson, and Nnamdi Asomugha. Like so many black NFL players during the 1960s, Brown honed his craft in college at an historically black university as he attended Grambling State University. His time spent at Grambling means that he was coached by legendary head coach Eddie Robinson, who was known for molding so many great teams, players, and shaping so many great young men. It was apparent that Brown was one of those men in college yet he still was not drafted by any professional football team after leaving school in 1963.
Being undrafted did not stop Willie Brown from enjoying a standout professional football career with the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders. Much of his career was highlighted by big plays and interceptions in the postseason for the Raiders as they were one of the best NFL teams during his time there. He also earned the fitting nickname “Old Man Willie” for his looks. However, one of the things that Willie Brown should remembered for is his annual participation in the NFL Draft over the last decade.
As a former Raider, Brown used to announce some of the Raiders later round draft picks at the podium of the NFL Draft in recent years. The timing of the NFL Draft on the calendar often took place slightly before a major holiday and Willie Brown reminded people of that. He would also do something special prior to announcing picks as he often reminded the men in the audience that Mother’s Day was coming up and to show the women love during that day.
During the 2017 NFL Draft, Willie Brown shouted out his own mother during his annual Mother’s Day salute and said, “Let me get a couple things out of the way… Happy mother’s day’s coming up in a couple weeks, guys, so go shopping for your mom, OK? My mom will be 103 in October. So her and Mrs. Al Davis… I won’t tell you her age — don’t worry about her age.” His salute to mothers became a NFL Draft tradition over the last decade and during the 2019 NFL Draft, another former Raiders great Charles Woodson, carried on the tradition with Brown unable to attend. This sign of love and affection that started with Willie Brown and continued with Charles Woodson was an awesome moment and the Raiders should continue it in the NFL Draft as a special tradition. It also showed that Brown was the classy guy his opponents thought him to be.
Staff Writer; Mark Hines