A day after learning of the passing of Jeff Siemon, Minnesota Vikings fans are now learning of the loss of another one of the team’s all-time great defensive players.
On Sunday morning, the team passed along the news that safety Joey Browner had passed away at the age of 65.
Browner was a staple of the Vikings’ defense for much of the 1980s. He was selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, 19th overall, after an outstanding college career at the University of Southern California.
Browner was the Trojans’ Most Valuable Player in 1982, which was no small feat on a team that also had Ronnie Lott and Marcus Allen on it.
During his time with the Vikings, Browner was a four-time First-Team All-Pro and a six-time Pro Bowler. He was also a member of the NFL’s All-1980s team, the Vikings’ 40th Anniversary Team, one of the 50 Greatest Vikings of All Time, and he was enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor in 2013. His 37 career interceptions are fifth in franchise history.
Browner played nearly his entire career with the Vikings, suiting up for the purple from 1983 to 1991 before playing the 1992 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If you have any memories of Joey Browner that you’d like to share, please feel free to do so in the comments section.
We at The Daily Norseman want to send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Joey Browner on the occasion of his passing.
