INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 13: A Cincinnati Bengals helmet sits on the field before Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals and the University of Notre Dame are mourning the passing of one of their former players as a member of Warren’s most iconic sporting families has died.
According to the Tribune Chronicle, Jimmie L. Browner Jr. has passed away at the age of 68. Jimmie’s death was confirmed by his brother Keith, as well as former Warren G. Harding football coach Steve Arnold.
Browner was a running back for Warren Western Reserve before going on to play for the Fighting Irish and then in the NFL with the Bengals. He died on March 6 just outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
“The Browner family has always been great to me as a coach,” Arnold said, per the Tribune Chronicle.
“I received a phone call from Jim last year encouraging me. … No other set of brothers succeeded as much as they have on the football field.”
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jimmie Browner Jr. We want to send our condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/baAiezvaTO
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) March 16, 2024
Jimmie Browner Jr. Played Three Positions In College And Two For The Bengals
Jimmie was born on December 4, 1955, and was part of the Warren Western Reserve’s state championship football team in 1972. He was also a member of the team that lost to the Cardinal Mooney Cardinals in the 1973 finals.
He would go on to represent Notre Dame for four years, playing as a running back for the program and rushing for 394 yards and two touchdowns in his first season. He played the final three years of his college career as a defensive back.
In those three years, he started every game, making five interceptions. He spent some time playing as a kick returner as a junior, returning eight kicks for 16.6 yards per.
The Bengals drafted him in the 12th round in 1979, making him the No. 304 pick. In two seasons with the team, he played in 18 games, operating as both a defensive back and kick returner.
Six of those 18 games were starts.
His exploits as a DB for the Bengals yielded an interception and two forced fumbles while he averaged 12.1 yards per return as a returner.
Jimmie’s older brother, Ross, died from COVID-19 complications in January of 2022. The two of them were on the same Bengals team for one season. His other brothers, Keith and Joey, also played in the NFL.
Total Pro Sports extends condolences to Jimmie’s family, friends, and loved ones.
R.I.P Jimmie L. Browner Jr.
