By Darin Hayes On October 20, 1932, Roosevelt “Rosey” Brown was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. Rosey was an offensive tackle from Morgan State College in Baltimore who earned the Black All-American honors. Rosey was selected in the 27th round of the 1953 NFL Draft by the New York Giants—a selection famously labeled “one of the biggest steals in draft history.” The Giants liked that Brown was 6’3″, 255 pounds, had powerful arms, and was willing to work hard while learning, according to the Pro Football Hall’s write-up on him.
Rosey played in the NFL for 13 seasons and earned a spot on nine Pro Bowl rosters while being selected as an All-NFL player eight times. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Roosevelt Brown in 1975.
Additional Contributions and Accolades
- NFL Champion: Won the 1956 NFL Championship with the New York Giants.
- Lineman of the Game: Was awarded Lineman of the Game honors in the 1956 NFL Championship Game for his dominant performance against the Chicago Bears’ defense.
- All-Time Teams: Named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
- Unmatched Versatility: He was a rare offensive tackle of his era who possessed the speed and mobility to pull and lead on wide ground plays, such as pitchouts, making him an integral part of Frank Gifford‘s running game.
- Pro Bowl Selections: He was named to the Pro Bowl in ten consecutive years (1956–1965), though he missed the 1962 game due to injury.
- Giants Dedication: After retiring as a player in 1965, Brown remained with the Giants organization for over 50 years, serving as an assistant coach and later as a scout.
- Jersey Number (NFL): He wore No. 79 for the New York Giants.
- Note on NCAA Jersey 10: While Brown is an iconic college player, his jersey number at Morgan State is not widely or consistently verified in historical records. His jersey number in the NFL was 79.
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