Willie Brown, a Hall of Fame cornerback and one of the most popular Raiders players in history, died on Tuesday at the age of 78, the organization announced.
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, but later in the day it was announced that Brown had lost a long battle with cancer.
Coach and General Manager Al Davis acquired Brown from the Denver Broncos in 1967, and in his first season, he helped the Raiders reach Super Bowl II, where they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers.
“Probably the best memory as a Raider was going to the Raiders and meeting Al Davis in Denver,” Brown recalled. “I was playing for Denver before being traded to the Raiders. He made the time to come to Denver, fly in, and speak with me about joining the Raiders. “That’s definitely the best time.”
Raiders owner Mark Davis, Al’s son, issued the following statement: “It’s A Very Sad Day For The Raider Nation As A Whole.. And For My Family In Particular.” Willie Brown was one of the greatest players to ever play the game. But it was off the field, and how he treated my mother, for which I will be forever grateful. Willie was always the one who helped my mother up and down the plane stairs on our road trips. Willie accompanied her to all of her roadside dinners. Willie would come to her birthday and Mother’s Day dinners. Willie was her best friend. We loved and will miss you, Willie…” -Mark Davis-
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The 6-1, 195-pound Brown is credited with creating and being the primary practitioner of the bump-and-run pass defense, which has since been prohibited.
Brown, who later became an assistant coach for the Raiders, made the all-time American Football League (1960-69) team, was a five-time AFL All-Star, played in four Pro Bowls after the merger with the National Football League, was a two-time All-Pro, and was named to the 1970 NFL Team of the Decade.
In addition, Brown played on the Raiders’ Super Bowl XI champions, making one of the iconic plays in the game’s history when he intercepted a pass by Fran Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to clinch a 32-14 victory. Bill King, the Raiders’ famed radio play-by-play announcer, chuckled as Brown ran down the sideline to the end zone at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena: “Old Man Willie, he’s going all the way.”
The Raiders published the following statement: “Willie Brown will always be remembered as a genuine Raider. He represented the Raider mentality, having entered the AFL as an undrafted free agent from Grambling State before joining the Silver and Black in 1967. He remained a vital element of the organization for six decades. His renowned performance on the field altered the way the cornerback position was played, and his invaluable advice as a coach, mentor, and administrator penetrated the organization and touched numerous people both on and off the field. Willie’s passing will leave a huge vacuum, but his leadership and presence will always be an important part of the Raiders Family.”
