Brown suffered a spinal cordcontusion in the final game of the 1997 season. The injury nearly left him paralyzed, and it ended his professional football career.
Although not initially expected to be highly drafted, Brown's performance at the NFL combine boosted his stock.[3][4] Brown was selected 17th overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1996 NFL draft.[5] In his second season, he recorded 2.5 sacks to go along with two interceptions, both of which went for touchdown returns. Brown ultimately played in 26 games.
In his final game, Brown suffered a spinal cordcontusion while assisting on a tackle of New York JetshalfbackAdrian Murrell in the final game of the 1997 season, the same game that saw Barry Sanders cross the 2,000-yard mark for the season.[6] He lay motionless for 17 minutes on the turf at the Pontiac Silverdome, briefly losing consciousness, with CPR saving his life.[7] Emergency surgery, rehabilitation, and use of a special back brace saved him from using a wheelchair for the rest of his life.[8]
Post-football career
Brown is mobile and active. In November 2015, Brown gave a presentation hosted by Texas A&M's sports medicine department in which he detailed the recovery from his spinal cord injury.[9]