Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown, who provided the iconic play of the Oakland Raiders' first Super Bowl title, died on Tuesday. Brown, who had been dealing with cancer, was 78.
"The entire Hall of Fame family mourns the loss of a great man," Hall of Fame President David Baker said in a statement. "Willie Brown was the epitome of the Raiders motto of 'commitment to excellence' that was integral to the team's sustained success. He embodied virtues like passion, integrity, perseverance and always led by example. His character, on and off the field, made all those around him better."
Al Davis acquired Brown for the Raiders in a trade from Denver in 1967 in one of the best moves he made during his Hall of Fame career running the Raiders.
Brown was one of the game's best lockdown cornerbacks and fit perfectly in Davis' preferred bump-and-run style of defense on the Raiders. He intercepted 54 passes, was a first-team All-Pro five times in the AFL and NFL and made the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1984.
Brown went on to have a brilliant career over 12 years with Oakland, highlighted by his 75-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Vikings that helped the Raiders win their first Super Bowl following the 1976 season.
Brown retired two seasons later.
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