Curtis Brown (cornerback)

Curtis Jamall Brown (born September 24, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns where he helped them reach the 2010 BCS National Championship game. He was selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, played three seasons for them and also spent time with the New York Jets and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Curtis Brown

Brown with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012
No. 31
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1988-09-24) September 24, 1988 (age 36) Longview, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school:	Gilmer (TX)
College:	Texas
NFL draft:	2011: 3rd round, 95th pick
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (2011–2013) New York Jets (2015)* Saskatchewan Roughriders (2016)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
2007 Holiday Bowl Champion 2008 Big 12 South Co-Champion 2009 Fiesta Bowl Champion 2009 Big 12 Champion
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 49 Forced fumbles: 1 Pass deflections: 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Brown played high school football at Gilmer, Texas, along with fellow high school stars Manuel Johnson, Justin Johnson, G. J. Kinne, and David Snow. He starred at both CB and WR, winning a state championship in 2004 as a sophomore. He was ranked as a 5-star prospect by most major recruiting sites, and chose to attend the University of Texas.

College career

Brown played cornerback at the University of Texas from 2007 to 2010. He started playing as a freshman and helped the Longhorns to win the Holiday Bowl that year, while playing in all 13 games. In his sophomore year, the Longhorns went 12-1, finished ranked #3/#4 won a share of the Big-12 South and the Fiesta Bowl, but missed out on the Big 12 Championship, and a shot at the National Championship, by the 5th tie-breaker.

As a junior in 2009, Brown was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference player by Pro Football Weekly and the Associated Press. The Longhorns won the Big 12 Championship and went to the BCS Championship for only the 2nd time in school history, which they lost to Alabama.

In his senior year, he was named 2nd team All-Big 12.^[1]

He finished his career at Texas with 105 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, a blocked punt and 2 interceptions, both of which were returned for over 70 yards and resulted in one touchdown.^[2]

Following his senior year, he participated in the 2010 Senior Bowl.^[1]

Professional career

Pittsburgh Steelers

Brown was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League in the 3rd round, 95th overall in the 2011 NFL draft.^[3] He played in 34 games over three seasons, but he spent time in each season on the injured reserve. He was released by the Steelers on March 5, 2014, along with Levi Brown and Larry Foote, after failing to pass his physical.^[4] The release came after Brown played in only seven games and recorded just seven tackles before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

New York Jets

Brown was signed by the New York Jets on February 10, 2015.^[5] He was waived on August 30, 2015.^[6]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

In January of 2016 Brown was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders,^[7] but he was cut before the season started.^[8]

Personal life

Brown's uncle, Hosea Taylor, played in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts from 1981 to 1983.^[9]