Larry Brown (running back)

Lawrence Brown Jr.
Born	(1947-09-19) September 19, 1947 Clairton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Professional football player (former), Financial advisor, Business executive
Years active	1969–1976 (NFL)
Known for	Running back for Washington Redskins, NFL MVP 1972

Lawrence Brown Jr. (born September 19, 1947) is a former professional football running back who spent his entire National Football League (NFL) career with the Washington Redskins from 1969 through 1976.

Early life

Born in Clairton, Pennsylvania to Rosa Lee and Lawrence Brown Sr., Brown was deaf in his right ear from birth. He grew up in Pittsburgh's Hill District, a neighborhood known for its challenges, and graduated from Schenley High School. Despite the racial tensions that marked high school sports between predominantly black and white schools, Brown refrained from conflicts, instead cultivating resilience and grit. Although initially drawn to baseball, he shifted his athletic focus to football during his junior year.

College football

Brown’s collegiate football journey began at Dodge City Community College in Kansas (1965–66) before transferring to Kansas State University in Manhattan (1967–68). At Dodge City, he secured a scholarship only after making the football roster. Serving primarily as a blocking back, he earned first-team All-KJCCC honors and received an NJCAA honorable mention All-American distinction. Brown was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1972 and was inducted into Dodge City’s Hall of Fame in 1986. Additionally, he was honored as part of the inaugural 2021 NJCAA Foundation Hall of Fame class.

At Kansas State, Brown was recruited in 1967 as a blocking back but amassed over 600 yards combined rushing and receiving that season. The following year, he transitioned to the primary running back role, leading the team with 402 rushing yards on 111 carries along with 13 receptions.

Professional career

Brown devoted his entire eight-year professional tenure to the Washington Redskins. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft (191st overall) during Vince Lombardi’s lone coaching season with the team. Lombardi, later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, identified Brown’s potential despite his limited recruitment out of high school.

The Redskins’ offense at that time revolved around All-Pro quarterback and future Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen along with elite receivers Charley Taylor, Jerry Smith, and Bobby Mitchell. However, rushing had been a weak point for Washington, ranking near the bottom in total ground yards during both the 1967 and 1968 seasons.

Although Brown had primarily been utilized as a blocking back at Kansas State and was not heavily recruited initially, Lombardi named him a starter during his rookie campaign. Upon realizing Brown’s hearing impairment affected his reaction to snap counts, Lombardi innovated by installing a helmet earpiece to relay signals directly from Jurgensen, greatly enhancing Brown’s timing. To combat fumbling issues, Lombardi also required Brown to carry a football constantly throughout training camp.

Brown delivered an outstanding rookie season, rushing for a team-record 888 yards and helping lead Washington to its first winning record since 1955 with a 7–5–2 finish. He placed second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and earned a Pro Bowl selection.

After Lombardi’s passing in 1970, Brown topped the league with 1,125 rushing yards—the first time a Redskins player surpassed 1,000 yards on the ground—and garnered first-team All-Pro recognition from multiple organizations. He earned Pro Bowl honors four consecutive seasons at the start of his career and played a key role in Washington’s journey to Super Bowl VII against the undefeated Miami Dolphins.

In 1972, Brown was named NFL Most Valuable Player after leading all rushers with 1,216 yards despite missing two games due to injury. That season marked Washington’s transition toward a more balanced offensive approach, achieving over 2,000 yards both passing and rushing.

Throughout his career, Brown carried the ball 1,530 times for 5,875 yards and was surpassed only by Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson for fastest accumulation of 5,000 rushing yards at that era. He recorded twenty-one games with over 100 rushing yards and scored multiple touchdowns on both rushes (35) and receptions (20), totaling 8,360 scrimmage yards with an average gain of 4.7 yards per touch.

As a receiver out of the backfield, Brown caught 238 passes for 2,485 yards. His longest run covered 75 yards while his longest reception extended for 89 yards.

In 1973, he co-wrote an autobiography entitled I'll Always Get Up.

Brown’s playing days were cut short by injuries. Although Washington has not officially retired his jersey number 43, it has been infrequently assigned since his departure—most recently briefly worn by Nate Orchard in 2021.

Legacy

Despite his relatively modest stature, Brown was distinguished by a fierce running style, a characteristic he attributed to his upbringing in Pittsburgh's Hill District and his experience playing street tackle football. His ability to break through tackles and accumulate yards after initial contact earned him praise from commentators, who described this attribute as "second effort." In 1972, then-rookie and future Hall of Famer Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers admired Brown’s relentless intensity, which shaped Harris’s own mentality toward the NFL.

Throughout his career, Brown consistently ranked among the league's top five in rushing attempts on five occasions, rushing yards four times, yards from scrimmage three times, and total touchdowns twice. He became the first running back for the Redskins to exceed 1,000 rushing yards in a single season, accomplishing this feat twice between 1969 and 1976. Brown earned selections to four straight Pro Bowls from 1969 through 1972 and was honored as the DC Touchdown Club NFL Player of the Year in 1972. He is recognized among the 70 and 80 Greatest Redskins of All Time and has been inducted into the Washington Commanders Ring of Fame.

In 2014, the Professional Football Researchers Association included Brown in its Hall of Very Good Class.

NFL career statistics

Legend
	NFL MVP
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Year	Team	Games		Rushing						Receiving					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Y/G	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	FR
1969	WAS	14	13	202	888	4.4	63.4	57	4	34	302	8.9	31	0	6	2
1970	WAS	13	13	237	1,125	4.7	86.5	75	5	37	341	9.2	66	2	6	1
1971	WAS	13	13	253	948	3.7	72.9	34	4	16	176	11.0	36	2	6	0
1972	WAS	12	12	285	1,216	4.3	101.3	38	8	32	473	14.8	89	4	9	3
1973	WAS	14	14	273	860	3.2	61.4	27	8	40	482	12.1	64	6	7	2
1974	WAS	11	11	163	430	2.6	39.1	16	3	37	388	10.5	34	4	2	0
1975	WAS	14	8	97	352	3.6	25.1	43	3	25	225	9.0	39	2	2	0
1976	WAS	11	0	20	56	2.8	5.1	11	0	17	98	5.8	15	0	2	0
Career			102	84	1,530	5,875	3.8	57.6	75	35	238	2,485	10.4	89	20	40	8

Post-football career

Following his retirement from professional football in 1976, Brown took on the role of Personal Financial Management Advisor at E.F. Hutton. He later dedicated 12 years to Xerox Corporation, where he oversaw business and community relations. Currently, he holds the position of Vice President at NAI Michael Commercial Real Estate Services.

Brown has also contributed his expertise as a board member for several organizations, including Mellon Bank (MD), George Mason University, and the Greater Washington, D.C. Sports Authority. Additionally, he represented the American Council of Young Political Leaders as a Delegate to Japan.

Charitable activities

Throughout his post-athletic career, Brown has maintained active involvement in philanthropic efforts connected with the Redskins and numerous nonprofits based in Washington, D.C. His charitable engagements include work with Prince George's County Special Olympics, the National Council on Disability, the Friends of the National Zoo Advisory Committee, the Coalition for the Homeless, the Capital Children's Museum, and participation in the Washington Redskins Charity Golf Classic.

He is also a frequent participant in events organized for Redskins alumni.