Joey Browner, one of the most successful safeties in Minnesota Vikings history, died Saturday at the age of 65, the team announced.
A six-year All-Pro Bowler from 1985-1990, Browner also made three first-team All-Pro selections during his individual career, accolades that helped land him on the NFL 1980 All-Decade Team, the Vikings Ring of Honor and the Vikings 50 Greatest List.
He ranks second in Vikings history in defensive back sacks (9.5) and total tackles (987), third in games contested by safeties (145) and fifth in interceptions (37).
Browner, whose three brothers Jim, Keith and Ross also made the NFL, played college football at USC and started 44 games for the Trojans from 1979-1982 with nine interceptions, two INT touchdowns and one punt return. After making the switch from cornerback to safety last year, Browner joined the Vikings as the 19th overall pick in the 1983 draft.
After developing a nose for the ball at USC, he immediately built on that foundation in the pros, recovering four fumbles as a freshman, with two forced fumbles and an interception. On top of his aforementioned 37 career picks, he also finished with a career-high 17 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries, as well as four defensive TDs.
While the Vikings have hit a playoff slump since the year they drafted Browner and lost four straight games, their chances of making a comeback improved as did Browner’s stardom.
The Vikings returned to the playoffs in the 1987 season, Browner’s first as a pro, and came one game short of the Super Bowl by losing to Washington in the NFC Championship Game. Minnesota made two more playoff berths in 1988 and 1989, but fell twice in the playoffs before going on another brief cold streak. Browner collected three interceptions to lead all defenders in the ’88 playoffs.
His last year as a Viking came in 1991, his fifth consecutive campaign with five or more interceptions
Browner then spent the 1992 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, retiring after a 10-year career.