Jason Brown
refer to caption
Brown in April 2015
No. 60
Position:Center
Personal information
Born: (1983-05-05) May 5, 1983
Henderson, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
High school:Northern Vance
(Henderson, North Carolina)
College:North Carolina
NFL Draft:2005 / Round: 4 / Pick: 124
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-ACC (2004)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:100
Games started:91
Player stats at NFL.com

Jason W. Brown (born May 5, 1983) is a former American football center and current farmer. He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Early years

Brown was born and raised in Henderson, North Carolina where he attended Northern Vance High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society. He was a member of the marching band until the football coach recruited him to play football. He was a standout not only in football but also in track and field. He holds four state championships; three in discus and one for shot put.

College career

Brown did not miss a game during his career at North Carolina. He was named First-team All-ACC in 2004. Brown first saw action in his freshman year at right tackle against Florida State. Brown started his career at The University of North Carolina as a tackle, then guard. He was later moved to center, where he played the remaining three years of his college career.

Professional career

2005 NFL Draft

Along with Chris Spencer, Brown was considered one of the best centers available in the 2005 NFL Draft. He was projected as a mid-third round pick,[1] and was eventually selected in the fourth round (124th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens.[2]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)		 313 lb
(142 kg)		 5.20 s1.85 s3.09 s4.52 s7.72 s30+1⁄28 ft 9 in
(2.67 m)		26 reps
All values from NFL Combine, except for broad jump and bench press, which are from North Carolina Pro Day

Baltimore Ravens

Jason Brown started all 16 games at guard in the 2007 season after spending 2005 and 2006 as a backup to Ravens starter Mike Flynn. He later started all 16 games in the 2008 season as a center. He was considered the best interior offensive lineman going into free agency after the end of season.[3]

St. Louis Rams

Brown visited the Rams in the first day of free agency February 27, 2009. The next day, he agreed to a five-year deal worth $37.5 million, including a $20 million in guaranteed money. The deal would make Brown the highest paid center in the NFL.[3][4] However, on March 10, it was reported that the contract has been disapproved by the league and the two sides were working to correct the issue.[5] The deal was finally approved by the NFL on March 12.[6][7]

On March 12, 2012, Brown was released by the Rams.

Free agency

Brown became an unrestricted free agent and received a conservative one-year contract offer from the Baltimore Ravens and attended visits with the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers.[8][9][10]

After football

Brown chose to walk away from football in 2012 at the age of 29 to become a farmer in Louisburg, North Carolina. He maintains a 1,000-acre farm called First Fruits Farm where he grows produce such as sweet potatoes and cucumbers. He donates these crops to local food pantries, having given away over 500,000 pounds of sweet potatoes and 50,000 pounds of cucumbers. Brown began learning about farming practices in 2012 by watching YouTube videos.[11]

Brown also owns and manages a special events venue called Amazing Graze Barn, which is located on the grounds of First Fruits Farm.[12] The barn is available for hosting weddings as well as corporate events and community gatherings.[12]

Personal life

Brown, who is African-American,[13] is a practicing Christian.[14]

Jason and Tay Brown married in 2003. They have 8 children.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Jason Brown Draft Profile". Sports Illustrated. April 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  3. 1 2 "Rams sign former Ravens center Brown to five-year, $37.5M deal". NFL.com. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Chadiha, Jeffri (October 15, 2009). "Spikes in value, hikes in pay". ESPN.com. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "JASON BROWN'S RAMS DEAL DISAPPROVED". Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Jason Brown Profile". Profootball.scout.com. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "LEAGUE APPROVES BROWN'S CONTRACT". Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "NFL Free Agency: Why Jason Brown and Eric Steinbach Make Sense for the Ravens". bleacherreport.com. April 18, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  9. ↑ Sando, Mike (April 3, 2012). "49ers update: Curious case of Jason Brown". espn.com. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Jason Brown taking his time in free agency". stltoday.com. April 13, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Ex-NFL Player Who Made $25 Million Quit Football At Age 29 To Become A Farmer". Business Insider. November 19, 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  12. 1 2 Amazing Graze Barn - About Us, Retrieved Oct. 13, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Former Star Center Jason Brown Trades NFL Career for Tractor to Help Feed Needy". GoodBlackNews.org. Louisburg, North Carolina. November 23, 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Former NFL Player Raises Crops for the Needy". January 2019.
  15. ↑ Griepentrog, Troy (11 July 2016). "Jason Brown: From the NFL to farming". Focus on the Family. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
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