The Life And Career Of Lomas Brown

Fans of the Detroit Lions are well aware that Barry Sanders is the best running back in team history.

His ability to avoid tacklers and take off in a cloud of dust is legendary.

However, as good as Sanders was, he also had the assistance of a good offensive line.

In particular, tackle Lomas Brown paved the way for his teammate and created holes large enough to drive a truck through.

RT to wish Lomas Brown a happy birthday today! pic.twitter.com/NS5YMj5sY9

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) March 30, 2016

Brown arrived in the Motor City in 1985 after an illustrious college career at the University of Florida.

He then spent the next 18 years in the NFL and retired as a Super Bowl winner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002.

Since then, Brown has worked in television and radio as an analyst.

This is the story of Lomas Brown.

Talked Into Football

Lomas Brown Jr. was born on March 30, 1963 in Miami, Florida.

Happy birthday to ex @Lions & #TecmoSuperBowl OT Lomas Brown (61)! The @GatorsFB great played 18 years in the @NFL & earned 7 Pro Bowls, 1st Team & 2x 2nd Team All-Pro Honors as well as a Super Bowl ring with the @Buccaneers in his final season. Happy birthday @LomasBrown75! pic.twitter.com/dTiV4yghdu

— SBlueman (@SBluemanTecmo) March 30, 2024

It’s difficult to fathom now, but for most of Brown’s early life he had no desire to play football.

Instead, his interests were far from the field.

“I never wanted to be a football player,” Brown said in 1989. “In 10th grade, I wasn’t even on the football team. I was in the band. I played the trombone.”

As much as he tried to avoid sports, however, Brown’s immense size was hard to miss.

“The first week of school, I was walking to band practice and the principal came up and said, ‘Young man, do you play sports?’ And I said, ‘No, I was in band.’ And he said, ‘I think you should try out for the football team.’ And I said, ‘What about the band?’ And he said, ‘You can always come back to the band.’ And he took me down there and introduced me to the coach and made me play football,” said Brown.

Alex Bromar, Brown’s principal at the time, later explained why he steered the kid to the sport.

“…not too many kids are 6-foot-4 in the 10th grade,” said Bromar.

Natural Talent

Standing well over six feet and packing a few hundred pounds on his frame, the coaches at Miami Springs High School put Brown on the offensive line.

Since he was unaccustomed to the physical labor of the sport, Brown hated football at first because he was always sore.

That changed when he got the hang of blocking and used his size to pancake smaller players.

“It got fun after that,” said Brown.

By the time his senior season ended, Brown was one of the best offensive tackle prospects in the nation.

He decided to stay close to home by accepting a scholarship to play for the Florida Gators.

“My trombone days are over,” Brown said. “I haven’t touched the thing in years.”

Several years later he was honored by the Florida High School Athletic Association who selected Brown for its All-Century Team.

“The Great Wall of Florida”

picture of a Florida Gators helmet — (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

In 1979, new Florida Gators head football coach Charley Pell experienced an unpleasant 0-10-1 season.

Things looked much better in 1980 when the Gators went 8-4 and beat Maryland in the Tangerine Bowl.

A year later, Brown came aboard and played some as a freshman for the 7-5 Gators.

An 8-4 record followed in 1982 and Florida had one of the best offensive lines in college football.

Crawford Kerr, Phil Bromley, Jeff Zimmerman, and Billy Hinson were some of the names that made up “The Great Wall of Florida.”

#ICYMI the 2020 @cfbhall class has been announced and we’re thrilled to welcome former @GatorsFB standout, Lomas Brown! The anchor of the Gators’ offensive line known as “The Great Wall of Florida”, Brown will be the 12th Gator inducted into the Hall! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/vsNzcZoVkb

— College Football Hall of Fame (@cfbhall) March 19, 2020

The Wall became even more strongly fortified when Brown became a starter.

“I was the last one to complete ‘The Great Wall,'” Brown said. “There was a criteria to be a member. You had to bench-press 400 pounds and leg press 700 pounds. All those guys, they were bulls. Really strong. Every one of ’em except me had done it. Eventually it was my turn. We were down there in the weight room, the whole locker room in there cheering me on, with 400 pounds on that rack — and I did it. I put the last brick in the ‘Wall.’ It was awesome.”

By that time, Brown was a 6’5, 280-pound giant.

Yet, whenever he wasn’t stonewalling defenders with a bullish demeanor on the field, Brown was described as a kind and caring man away from the game.

As Florida went 9-2-1 in 1983 with a win over Iowa in the Gator Bowl, Brown was named a second-team All-SEC selection and voted as the team’s Offensive Lineman of the Year.

“When we think about the potential of Lomas Brown, he must be projected as the type of player who one day could be looking back at a professional career where he’s been an All-Pro for a decade or so,” Pell told the Miami News in 1983. “He’s that good.”

1984

Florida ended the’83 season ranked sixth in the country and looked like one of the top teams in college football as 1984 approached.

Brown and his fellow linemen would be blocking for running backs John L. Williams, Lorenzo Hampton, and Neal Anderson.

All three backs would one day play in the NFL as would receiver Ricky Nattiel, who was a Gator freshman in ’84.

🐊Gator great Lomas Brown belongs in the @ProFootballHOF https://t.co/d5Ikc1hcYa pic.twitter.com/N76VobtZVv

— Nick Knudsen (@NickKnudsenFB) December 12, 2022

However, after a 1-1-1 start, the program was rocked when Coach Pell was fired after the NCAA announced that he had committed numerous infractions including recruiting violations.

Offensive coordinator Galen Hall was named the interim coach and Florida rebounded with nine straight wins including a victory over in-state rival Florida State in the final game of the year.

Along the way, Brown and company helped all three running backs reach between 400 and 900 yards a piece.

After the season Brown was selected as a Consensus All-American, a first-team All-ACC member and received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the top O-lineman in the conference.

Thank you to the #University of Florida!! Love and gratitude for the billboard on the Las Vegas strip, Big moment going into the #College HOF,#Go Gators pic.twitter.com/NUx0BeK0eb

— Lomas Brown Jr. (@LomasBrown75) December 7, 2021

He was then invited to play in the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl all-star games and was inducted into the Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

“This has been wonderful, this whole thing,” Brown said. “I didn’t know how I would react because I don’t think you know how you are going to react to an honor like this. But I tell you what, it’s been overwhelming and it’s amazing.”

Detroit Picks Brown

Detroit Lions helmet — (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

There were several teams that desperately needed good offensive linemen in the 1985 NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions were one of them.

After a playoff appearance in 1983 the Lions won four games in 1984.

New Detroit head coach Darryl Rogers wanted help to improve the franchise’s 21st-ranked offense.

Lomas Brown #75 – one of the best OL of his era.@LomasBrown75 @MatthewsMorning
🐊 pic.twitter.com/4Np12DHi7C

— Rob Sniffen (@TallyGator90) January 23, 2024

So, with the sixth overall pick in the draft, the Lions picked Brown.

“It was a complete surprise that I was coming to Detroit,” Brown said. “Everything was a whirl.”

Excited about being one of the top selections in the league, the lineman flew to the Motor City and expected to be treated like royalty.

That didn’t happen.

“So, we walk to the parking lot, and in the parking lot, he [a Lions staffer] came to pick me up in his car. And, it was a straight hooptie. It was rusted out at the bottom. I forgot what make and model it was, but it was a hooptie,” Brown recalled in 2023. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ I’m saying to myself, ‘Man, I’m the sixth pick in the draft, and they send a one-armed equipment guy to come pick me up in this hooptie, man.’ And, I’m telling you, I froze from that. Cause again, it was rusted out at the bottom. I froze from the airport all the way out to the Pontiac Silverdome, and that was my first experience with the Lions.”

In Brown’s rookie year he started every game while Detroit improved to seven wins.

He continued to be a consistent starter for the next three seasons while the team plummeted to 13 wins between 1986 and 1988.

Barry Sanders Comes to Motown

In 1988, the Lions had one of the worst offenses in the NFL.

Before the 1989 season began, interim coach Wayne Fontes was hired as Detroit’s full-time coach.

Then, he and the front office made one of the wisest choices in the ‘89 draft.

With the third overall pick, the team selected Oklahoma State University running back Barry Sanders.

Coach Wayne Fontes shows Barry Sanders the Silverdome for the first time in 1989. Soon, 80,000 plus would be chanting Barry, Barry, Barry! (I was lucky to be one of those fans on at least 25 occasions, and I saw Barry's first game as a Lion!). pic.twitter.com/r1prooOYmV

— Iffy The Dopester (@IffyTheDopester) December 1, 2023

Right off the bat Sanders established himself as one of the most exciting young players in the league.

With Brown and his fellow offensive linemen, such as center Kevin Glover, opening holes, Sanders started 13 games as a rookie and sprinted, juked, and dodged his way to over 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He was selected as the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year while Detroit won seven games.

Brown was also recognized with his first Pro Bowl selection.

Lions Make the Playoffs

After a six-win 1990 season, the Lions surpassed all expectations in 1991.

With an offensive that included Sanders and explosive rookie receiver Herman Moore, the organization won an unprecedented 12 games.

Suddenly, Brown was playing on a Super Bowl contender as Detroit throttled Dallas in the divisional round.

"BARRY THINGS"#Lions legend Barry Sanders plays hide-and-seek — a 47-yard scoring spectacular to close out the #Cowboys in the 1991 NFC Divisional at the Silverdome, 38-6.

January 5, 1992 pic.twitter.com/22bu93zPgW

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 5, 2024

The dream season ended a week later, unfortunately, when the Washington Redskins beat the Lions 41-10 in the NFC Championship game.

With the offensive line and the Detroit running and passing game firmly established, the organization returned to the postseason three of the next four years including three straight between 1993 and 1995.

Brown Leaves Detroit

Despite the fact that Brown rarely missed a start and he helped Sanders win two NFL rushing titles, the Lions allowed their tackle to leave as a free agent early in 1996.

Brown was quickly gobbled up by the Arizona Cardinals for three years and $9 million.

His tenure with the Cards didn’t start out well.

In 1996 and 1997 the organization won just 11 games.

However, in 1998, Arizona rode the strong, right arm of second-year quarterback Jake Plummer, and the play of running back Adrian Murrell and receiver Rob Moore, to a 9-7 record and defeat of Dallas in the wild card round.

One week later, the high-flying Minnesota Vikings ended the Cards’ season.

Brown Retires as a Super Bowl Champion

Shortly after the conclusion of the ‘98 season, Brown was on the move again, this time to the Cleveland Browns.

3/1/99 – After spending the first five-years with Phoenix/Arizona, and only months after making the playoffs, LT Lomas Brown rejected the Cardinals' two-year, near $6M offer and suprisingly signed with the expansion Cleveland Browns for three-years and $10.5M. pic.twitter.com/0BQuIsKz0i

— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) March 1, 2023

He missed six games to injury while the “expansion” Browns won twice in 1999.

In 2000 and 2001, Brown spent two years with the New York Giants including a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV after 2000.

Just as he was considering retirement in 2002, then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden contacted Brown and asked if he would be interested in returning to his home state as a backup.

He agreed and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

The Bucs were loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.

Lomas Brown pic.twitter.com/xJlqgtvDwh

— Random Buccaneer (@RandomBuccaneer) July 12, 2021

Brown saw action in 11 contests and was along for the ride as Tampa Bay went 12-4 and beat the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.

“It was almost like the crowning touch of an 18-year career — that I was able to go out with the Super Bowl,” he said in 2020. “I always question the manner in which I won it. I lost it as a starter (with the Giants), and won one as a reserve. There’s always that conflict with me. I started for 17 years – 17 out of 18 years. The one year I didn’t start was the year I won the Super Bowl. I think about the irony of how things worked out for me. Those are two things, how I look at the beginning of my career and how I ended it.”

Brown Retires

With a world title in his back pocket, Brown almost signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003 but decided it was time to call it quits.

“I woke up with my senses,” Brown said.

During his 18-year career, Brown started in 251 out of a possible 263 games.

He was a Super Bowl champion, seven-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, and a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 1985.

Lomas Brown will be inducted into the Pride of the Lions tonight during halftime of Monday Night Football.

You can't find a person out there to speak poorly about Lomas and that speaks volumes of why he's being the newest inductee. pic.twitter.com/vLGtqNPbTK

— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) October 30, 2023

Since retiring, Brown has been added to the Pride of the Lions and selected to the franchise’s All-Time Team and 75th Anniversary Team.

Life in Retirement

NFL legend Lomas Brown — (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images

As a player in the NFL, Brown was a busy man.

That didn’t stop when he hung up his cleats.

For the past few decades Brown has been active in charity including running his Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation.

ESPN, the NFL Network and the Lions have since put the former offensive tackle to work as a television and radio analyst.

The Voice Of The Lions Lomas Brown & Dan Miller , Who Loves Ya Baby 🏈🏈 Let’s get a win Sunday One Pride World Wide!!!!! pic.twitter.com/VYcw7NvQ8W

— Ron Crackman Crachiola (@lions_crackman) February 20, 2024

While working for ESPN Radio in 2012, Brown got himself in hot water when he alleged that he allowed an opposing defender to sack quarterback Scott Mitchell when both were members of the Lions in 1994.

Mitchell was injured on the play which was Brown’s alleged purpose for giving up the sack.

When Mitchell heard the incredibly hot take, he was understandably upset.

Brown then tried to explain himself to the public a week later.

“I’m not going to retract, I’m not going to sit here and make excuses . . . The one thing I can say is I should have been more tactful at how I said that. That was wrong on my part. I should have humbly said that. It came off boastful, and I shouldn’t have said it that way. I said it, I can’t take it back, but I shouldn’t have said it the way I said it,“ Brown said.

Mitchell would forgive his former teammate and both men examined footage of the incident which revealed that Brown actually hadn’t given up a sack.