Browner performed three seasons at cornerback for the Trojans earlier than transitioning to security for his senior marketing campaign. He completed his collegiate profession with 9 profession interceptions and a formidable 40 move deflections.
“Intercepting the football was not my main concern,” Browner instructed reporters. “Making sure that nobody else caught it anytime, anywhere, was.”
Browner went on to solidify the same fame in the NFL, the place two older brothers and a youthful brother additionally performed, establishing a household document for quantity of brothers to make it to soccer’s pinnacle stage.
His oldest brother, Ross, was a move rusher for the Bengals from 1978-86 and performed 11 video games for Green Bay in 1987. The subsequent brother, Jim, performed defensive again for Cincinnati in 1979 and 1980. Born lower than two years after Joey, Keith Browner, Sr., totaled 65 video games with 4 completely different groups from 1984-88. Willard performed collegiately at Notre Dame. The youngest brother, Gerald, performed at Georgia.
“One thing about it is, our parents always wanted us to stay off the streets,” Ross Browner told the Tribune Chronicle in 2016. “[They wanted us] to learn a trade or something that was going to be positive in life, and sports really turned out to be one of those positive things in our life.”
That was evident for Joey, who at all times confirmed a nostril for the soccer.
He performed in all 16 video games as a rookie, snagging a pair of interceptions and recovering 4 fumbles. He grew to become a full-time starter for the Vikings in 1985, his third season in the league.
Browner garnered six consecutive Pro Bowl alternatives from 1985-90. Smith tied six Pro Bowls, making 5 journeys from 2015-19 and one other after the 2021 season and frequently loved connecting along with his predecessor when Browner visited Vikings coaching camps.
Browner led the Vikings in tackles in 1986 and 1987, serving to Minnesota advance to the 1987 NFC Championship Game in opposition to Washington. He recorded six interceptions that season and garnered his first of 4 consecutive All-Pro alternatives from The Associated Press (First Team in 1987-88 and 1990; Second Team in 1989).
He helped the Vikings produce the NFL’s top-ranked protection (yards allowed) in 1988 and 1989.
Overall, Browner performed 9 seasons for the Vikings (1983-91) earlier than spending his remaining season in Tampa Bay. He ranks third in workforce historical past for video games performed by a security behind Smith (207) and Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowler Paul Krause (172).
The Ohio native ranks second in sacks by a Vikings defensive again (9.5) and complete tackles (987 based on workforce stats). His 37 profession interceptions rank fifth all-time in franchise historical past.
When Smith broke a tie with Browner and moved into fourth place in opposition to Washington final December, he stated Browner “was a guy who helped define what it is to be a safety.”
“We probably had kind of similar games — pretty physical guys, but also could turn the ball over well,” Smith added. “I’ve been fortunate enough to talk to him. Just an honor to be mentioned amongst him.”
Browner was named to the Nineteen Eighties NFL Team of the Decade, and his six consecutive Pro Bowls rank solely behind 11 in a row by Randall McDaniel and 7 straight by Ron Yary in franchise lore.
“Joey was one of those players that could transcend any generation of player,” Vikings Ring of Honor linebacker Scott Studwell stated in 2013. “He could’ve played today. When he played, he was one of the best at his position.”
In 2013, Browner grew to become the 21st Legend inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor.
“The Ring of Honor is something that is very special because there are very few of us that are in there,” Browner stated. “To be with people like Fran Tarkenton and Jim Marshall … Chris Doleman, John Randle, it’s just a great honor.”
