Hardy Brown

Hardy Brown
No. 25, 73, 33, 37, 34
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	May 8, 1924; Childress, Texas, U.S.
Died:	November 8, 1991 (aged 67); Stockton, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College:	Tulsa
NFL draft:	1947 / Round: 12 / Pick: 104
Career history
	Brooklyn Dodgers (1948); Chicago Hornets (1949); Baltimore Colts (1950); Washington Redskins (1950); San Francisco 49ers (1951–1955); Chicago Cardinals (1956); Denver Broncos (1960);
Career highlights and awards
	Pro Bowl (1952);
	Player stats at PFR

Hardy Brown (May 8, 1924 – November 8, 1991) was an American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL), All-America Football Conference (AAFC), and the American Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Tulsa and then professionally for the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and the Denver Broncos. He was one of only two men who played in the AAFC, NFL, and the AFL (the other was Ben Agajanian).^[1]

When Brown was four years old, he witnessed the murder of his father. He was then sent, along with his brothers and sisters, to live at the Texas Masonic Home, an orphanage for the children of deceased Freemasons in Fort Worth, Texas.^[2] At the Masonic Home, Brown became friends with Tex Coulter.^[3] Brown was a standout football player for the Mighty Mites, leading them to the state semi-finals his senior year. He then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a Paramarine during the Second World War, before playing football at Tulsa and eventually professionally.^[4] Brown became known as one of the roughest defensive players in the game, knocking out numerous opponents with his trademark shoulder push.^[5] The Rams once offered a $500 bounty to any player who could take him out, and he had his shoulder pads checked before a game once to make sure he did not have metal plating or other such material stuffed in them. His reputation was such that supposedly, on one occasion, when future Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Waterfield was hit by a motorist, his first response was, "I didn't know that Hardy Brown was in town."^[6]

Hall of Famer Art Donovan had this to say of Brown: "How about San Francisco's Hardy Brown; ever heard of him? He was one tough bastard. I can't count how many people Hardy put in the hospital. His style was an intent to maim. He had this knack, this technique of slamming a shoulder into a running back's face; to this day I don't know how he did it. He was like a snake uncoiling. He'd get under your chin and, bang, you'd be seeing stars. Ball carriers looked for Hardy, rather than an opening, coming around that corner."^[7]

Brown died in 1991 in a mental institution after suffering from dementia,^[8] emphysema, and arthritis in his right (knockout) shoulder so bad he couldn't lift his arm to scratch his head.^[1]

NFL Network

On the show NFL's Top 10, Hardy was marked as #5 on "The Most Feared Tacklers of All Time" segment.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p. 54, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6
^ Donahue, Ben (October 5, 2021). "The Life And Career Of Hardy Brown (Complete Story)". Pro Football History. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^ Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p. 52, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6
^ "The hardest hitter: Hardy Brown – Denver Broncos History". Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^ Schalter, Ty. "How and Why the NFL Transitioned from Football to Two-Hand Touch". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^ "NFL 100 – Hardy Brown « rayonsports.com". Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^ Donovan, Arthur (1987). Fatso: Football When Men Were Really Men. W. Morrow. p. 161. ISBN 0-688-07340-9.
^ Dan. "The most dangerous player who ever buckled a chinstrap". PRO FOOTBALL DALY. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^ Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p. 67, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6