SAD NEWS: Super Bowl-Winning NFL Coach Dies As NFL Community Mourns
He was the first Black quarterback in Memphis State football history.
Football lost one of its most respected position coaches this week, with Charles “Kippy” Brown sadly passing away.
Brown began his coaching career at his alma mater, Memphis State, in 1978, a full 12 years before he’d land his first NFL job. That patience eventually paid off with a career spanning seven professional franchises and one Super Bowl ring.
He died this week at age 71.
His NFL Journey Spanned Seven Franchises Over 22 Seasons
Aug 8, 2012; Renton, WA, USA; NFL: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Terrell Owens (10) talks with coach Kippy Brown (Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)
Brown broke into the NFL in 1990 as the New York Jets’ running backs coach. From there, his career took him through stops with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, and finally the Seattle Seahawks.
He served as Jimmy Johnson’s offensive coordinator in Miami for two seasons and later worked as the Lions’ associate head coach during Detroit’s infamous 0-16 season in 2008. He also interviewed for Houston’s head coaching vacancy in 2006, though the Texans ultimately hired Gary Kubiak instead.
Brown’s final NFL stop brought him the greatest success of his career. He joined Pete Carroll’s staff in Seattle in 2010 as wide receivers coach, helping mold a group that included undrafted free agents Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse into key contributors on Seattle’s dominant Super Bowl XLVIII roster.
Both Baldwin and Kearse caught touchdowns in that 43-8 win over Denver, capping a five-year run in Seattle before Brown retired following the team’s second straight Super Bowl appearance.
He Broke Barriers Long Before His Coaching Career Began
Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks receivers coach Kippy Brown Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Brown’s own playing career carried historical weight, too. He became the first Black quarterback in Memphis State football history, leading the program from 1974 to 1977 after previously breaking the same barrier at Sweetwater High School in Tennessee.
He later returned to coach at Tennessee across three separate stints, helping the program earn its “Wide Receiver U” nickname while developing NFL talent like Anthony Miller and Carl Pickens.
Pete Carroll reflected warmly on Brown’s presence within the Seahawks organization via the team’s official website.
“He was a great friend to everybody, because he had such a positive, good, fun-loving spirit,” Carroll said. “Everybody loved being around Kip. And he had a light about him, he wanted to have a good time and have fun and make things pleasant for everyone around him. That’s why so many people have rallied around him in this last month or so and reached out to Deon, being supportive and loving. He was a wonderful person, and my heart goes out to Deon and the family.”
Baldwin, one of several Seahawks receivers whom Brown helped develop into Super Bowl champions, shared his own memories of working under the late assistant.
“Kippy was the perfect person for us, for our group of guys who came in at that time, myself, Ricardo (Lockette), Jermaine, Golden, Sid,” Baldwin said. “Kippy and Sidney Rice paired really well together as being the elder statesmen in the room, helping us young guys get onboarded into the NFL life.”
Our thoughts are with the Brown family during this difficult time.
