The Cincinnati Bengals and Notre Dame Fighting Irish both announced the unexpected death of a former player on Saturday morning, and both teams are in mourning today.
At the age of 68, Jimmie Browner Jr., an Irish defensive back and running back, passed away.
Steve Arnold, Jimmie’s high school football coach, and Keith, one of his surviving brothers, confirmed his death on Friday.
As a coach, the Browner family has always treated me very well, according to Arnold.
“Jim gave me a call last year to offer encouragement… On the football field, no other brotherhood has achieved as much success as they have.
In his first year of play in the 1970s, Browner was a running back at Notre Dame; however, he spent the next three seasons as a defensive back.
In his rookie season, he rushed for 394 yards and two touchdowns. In the following three seasons, he had five defensive interceptions.
He also saw action as a kick returner in his junior year, averaging 16.6 yards per return in eight returns.
Browner played for the Notre Dame team in 1977, which was regarded as the undisputed national champion of that year. Joe Montana, who would go on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a member of the team and the starting quarterback during his junior year.
Jimmie Browner Jr., Notre Dame-tenured player selected by the Cincinnati Bengals
Browner was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 12th round of the 1979 NFL Draft following his four years at Notre Dame.
He was a member of the Bengals for two seasons; the 1980 season marked his final NFL game.
Throughout his two seasons with the Bengals, he participated in 18 games, seeing action as a defensive back and kick returner.
Jimmie Browner Jr. had one interception and two forced fumbles in his six games as a starter. He averaged 12.1 yards per return while serving as a return man, returning eight kicks.
Throughout his two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, he participated in 18 games, seeing action as a defensive back and kick returner.
He finished with one interception and two forced fumbles in six games that he started. He averaged 12.1 yards per return while serving as a return man, returning eight kicks.
Three of Browner’s brothers played in the NFL as well. Ross Browner, Joey, and Keith were all professional athletes; Joey’s career was the most remarkable.
Warren sports legend Jimmie Browner Jr. dies
As a coach, the Browner family has always treated me very well, according to Arnold.
“Jim gave me a call last year to offer encouragement. On the football field, no other brotherhood has achieved as much success as theirs.
Jimmie was a member of Warren Western Reserve’s football teams that won the 1972 state title and the 1973 state runner-up squad that was defeated by the late, great coach Don Bucci’s Cardinal Mooney Cardinals. Jimmie was born in Warren on December 4, 1955.
Jimmie played for four years at Notre Dame after graduating from WWR.
Jimmie was a running back for the Fighting Irish as a freshman, gaining 394 yards and two touchdowns via the air. After that, he spent his last three seasons in South Bend as a defensive back.
As a sophomore, junior, and senior, he started every 11 games and totaled five interceptions in those three seasons. He also saw action as a kick returner in his junior year, averaging 16.6 yards per return in eight returns.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Jimmie with the 304th overall choice in the 12th round of the 1979 NFL Draft.
Throughout his two seasons with the Bengals, he participated in 18 games, seeing action as a defensive back and kick returner.
He finished with one interception and two forced fumbles in six games that he started. He averaged 12.1 yards per return while serving as a return man, returning eight kicks.
Ross, Jimmie’s older brother, passed away in January 2022 as a result of COVID-19 problems. Jimmie spent one season as a Bengals player and was teammates with Ross.
Keith and Joey, Jimmie’s other brothers, were NFL players as well.