By Darin Intro
Born in Albert Lea, Minnesota, on December 5, 1936, Tom Brown was the anchor of one of college football’s most stunning turnarounds. As a guard for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, Brown helped transform a team that finished last in the Big Ten in 1959 into a National Champion in 1960. But his dominance on the line didn’t just translate to team success; it earned him a singular distinction: he became the interior lineman with the highest vote ranking in Heisman Trophy history, finishing second in the tabulation for the 1960 award.
From Last to Legacy: Tom Brown and the Unlikely Rise of the Minnesota Golden Gophers
December 5, 1936 – Albert Lea, Minnesota – The fine guard from the University of Minnesota, Tom Brown, was born. The NFF’s footballfoundation.org bio on Tom paints a remarkable picture of how the Minnesota Golden Gophers were last in the Big Ten in 1959 and then, the next year, won a national Championship.
Tom Brown in 1960 became the interior lineman with the highest vote ranking in Heisman history when he took second in the tabulation for the 1960 award. Tom Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
After school, Tom played in the CFL with the BC Lions for 7 seasons.
Conclusion
Tom Brown’s career represents not only the dramatic peak of a storied program but also a high watermark for the interior offensive line position in college football history. His ability to anchor the Gophers’ line powered them to a National Championship and saw him finish second in the 1960 Heisman voting—an unprecedented feat for a guard. His legacy was further cemented by his seven seasons with the BC Lions in the CFL and his rightful induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
Tom Brown: Career Accomplishments
- Birth Date: December 5, 1936 (Albert Lea, Minnesota).
- College Position: Guard, University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
- Team Turnaround: Helped Minnesota go from last place in the Big Ten in 1959 to winning a National Championship in 1960.
- Heisman History (1960): Finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, marking the highest finish for an interior lineman in the award’s history.
- Professional Career: Played seven seasons in the CFL for the BC Lions.
- Hall of Fame: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
