Jerome Brown could do anything he wanted on a football field. At 6-foot-2, 292 pounds, he terrorized offensive lineman at the University of Miami before taking his talents to the NFL. He quickly became a standout for the Philadelphia Eagles. But just as he entered his prime, he died at the age of 27. Here’s the story of Jerome Brown and a life that ended too soon.
For four years, Brown built a reputation as one of the most dynamic defensive linemen in the country. He racked up 183 tackles (19 for loss), 21 sacks, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries for the Hurricanes. Brown earned consensus All-American honors as a senior.
Of course, his final year at UM included a famous showdown against Penn State University. Prior to the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, Brown led a group of Hurricanes players on a walkout after Penn State players mocked Miami coach Jimmy Johnson during a pre-game banquet.
The outspoken defensive lineman delivered a line for the ages by asking, “Did the Japanese go and sit down and have dinner with Pearl Harbor before they bombed them?”
