Ben Brown’s football journey has featured plenty of ups-and-downs. The most recent? Signing a two-year contract extension with the New England Patriots.
“Unbelievable feeling. I love it here,” Brown said
Tuesday shortly after the announcement of his new deal. “I’m so very thankful to the Kraft family, to Coach Vrabes, to Eliot [Wolf], and everyone else for believing in me and being able to give me this opportunity. I’m just going to do my best out there and do what I can to help this football team continue to win.”
During his final collegiate season at Ole Miss, Brown’s year was cut short after the center tore his biceps. It led to the once projected day three pick going undrafted before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Bengals.
In Cincinnati, Brown injured his biceps again during his first preseason game which led to him spending his entire rookie season on injured reserve. After being released the following summer during roster cuts, he went on to have stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, and Las Vegas Raiders over the next year.
“I’d say it’s been a crazy kind of career for me,” Brown said. “For me, ultimately just trusting God’s plan for me, whether that was continuing to play in the NFL and getting an opportunity like I have today or it ending. I had confidence and comfort in that at the end of the day.”
As a member of the Raiders practice squad in 2024, everything quickly changed for Brown. Receiving a phone call from the Patriots in the middle of the week, he signed to New England’s active roster and was immediately thrusted into the starting lineup due to injuries in quarterback Drake Maye’s first career NFL start.
Brown, who had previously appeared in just one NFL game, went on to start 10 games at center for the Patriots over the course of the season.
“Coming here last year off of the Raiders practice squad was such an unbelievable experience, and to still be around here [means a lot],” Brown said. “I love everything about New England. I love everything about the Patriots. Growing up when I was a kid, watching the Patriots play on TV was some of my fondest memories. I remember watching games with my dad when I was younger — whether it was a Sunday night game or a playoff game — and my dad saying, ‘You’re good enough to play out there, too.’
“Little me in ninth grade was like, ‘See those guys Dad, they’re giants.’ But he was right. I’ve been surrounded by such a phenomenal support group my entire life. I’ve been so incredibly blessed, and I’m so grateful to get this done and to be here.”
During his second season with the team, Brown has served as a jumbo tight end and a valuable reserve interior lineman due to his ability to play both guard and center. That led to him drawing two starts at left guard in place of a previously injured Jared Wilson.
Brown’s work on and off the field led to him officially inking the two-year extension on Monday.
“I just think Ben exemplifies everything that we want in building this program,” said head coach Mike Vrabel. “Cares deeply about the team, plays multiple positions, is a great teammate, plays with effort and finish, tries to work and improve, and has found a role for himself here. Excited to have him.”
