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Storyline: Tim Brown, the NFL all-time great, had spectacular career numbers: 75+ receptions, 10 straight years; 5-plus TDs, 11 years; and 176 consecutive starts.
Tim Brown was finally elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015. It was an honor well deserved. There was no one more consistent on the football field than the Heisman winner from Notre Dame. I always like to say that Brown is the only good thing that ever stepped out of South Bend.
Not many people would mention the name, “Tim Brown,” when asked to name the top wide outs of the past 40 years, but he was always his QB’s most dependable friend. Brown’s league records scream of his consistency: 10 straight seasons with 75 receptions or more; 11 season of five-plus TDs; and 176 consecutive starts for a wide receiver.
Brown produced all these stats despite never having played with a Hall of Fame QB. Marvin Harrison deserves his call to the Hall, eventually, but I was ecstatic when he didn’t bypass Brown. Harrison played almost his entire career with Peyton Manning, while Brown had to catch passes from the likes of Vince Evans, Billy Joe Hobert, and Donald Hollas.
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Raider Nation should always a hold special place for Tim Brown in their Silver & Black hearts. He is the last Hall of Famer drafted by Al Davis. Brown was the one smidgen of greatness that bridged the gap between the Raider greats of the 80s, through the lean years of the 90s, to the last Super Bowl appearance in 2002. He started playing on a roster with Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, and Howie Long. He finished up playing with Rich Gannon, Jerry Rice, and Charles Woodson. Tim Brown is Mr. Raider for my generation.
I grew up watching Tim Brown–starting at the age of fourteen–and watched him finish his career as I turned thirty. I lived and died with Timmy every year in L.A./Oakland. Those memories will never fade.
Here is my breakdown of Tim Brown’s Hall of Fame Raider career. It’s my ode to Mr. Consistency.
1988 Record: 7-9 QB: Steve Beuerlein/Jay Schroeder, Brown Stats: 43 rec 725 yds 6 TD (1 rush)
The Heisman winner burst on to the NFL scene, literally, as his first kickoff return went the distance. Brown set a then- league record for all-purpose yards and led the league in kickoff and punt returns as a rookie. If only Al would have stuck with Beuerlein–instead of trading All-Pro tackle Jim Lachey for Jay Schroeder–the future might have been much different for then-coach Mike Shanahan.
1989 Record: 8-8 QB: Jay Schroeder, Brown Stats: 1 rec 8 yds
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In Week 1 Timmy blew out his knee and missed the rest of the season. Back in the ’80s this was even more devastating than it is now. Brown’s career was thought to be in jeopardy and there were legitimate questions if he would return to form. Mike Shanahan was also fired that season and replaced by Art Shell (1.0 version). It’s amazing that this move worked out for the Raiders in the short term.
1990 Record: 12-4 AFC West Champs QB: Jay Schroeder, Brown Stats: 18 rec 265 yds 3 TD
Still recovering from his knee injury, Brown was the third WR behind Willie Gault and Mervyn Fernandez. Brown still made his impact on punt returns as he finished in the top ten for the year. That was the first of six straight seasons Timmy finished in the top ten in punt returns–a much overlooked aspect of his game as time passed. The Raiders had their best year in a while, but got trounced in the AFC Championship game by the Bills, 51-3. (I think I just had a flashback. Can bad losses cause PTSD?)
1991 Record: 9-7 AFC Wild Card QB: Jay Schroeder/Todd Marinovich, Brown Stats: 36 rec 554 yds 5 TD
The 1991 and 1992 seasons really should have been better for Brown, but Shell (in reality, Al Davis) kept starting the speedster, Gault, instead. The Raiders seemed to have their QB of the future in Todd Marinovich, who looked very good in his first start…for one game, anyway, until Surfer Boy decided he was pretty much done trying after game one. (Watch The Marinovich Project documentary if you ever get a chance. It’s a good story, but an awful one for Raider fans.)
1992 Record: 7-9 QB: Jay Schroeder/Todd Marinovich, Brown Stats: 49 rec 693 yds 7 TD
For the love of God, Al Davis, can you please start Tim Brown! While you’re at it … how about not letting the former league and Super Bowl MVP, Marcus Allen, rot on the bench? 1988–1992 were such lost years, in my opinion. Bad QB trades, personal vendettas, and inept coaching kept a very talented team from achieving much. “The Commitment to Excellence” was losing its shine.
1993 Record: 10-6 AFC Wild Card QB: Jeff Hostetler, Brown Stats: 80 rec 1180 yds 7 TD
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This is the Tim Brown we all know and love, and it was the beginning of “Mr. Consistency.” Finally given a chance to start, Brown led the AFC in receiving and became the primary weapon on the Raiders for years to come. It helped that Brown finally had a solid QB with “The Hoss” tossing him the football. The Raiders got back in the playoffs with a dramatic last-second win over Denver and, then, thumped the donks, 42-24, the next week in the Wild Card game. (Suck it Elway!) The Raiders lost a squeaker to Buffalo in the divisional game, 29-23. HOF voters should have taken a look at Timmy’s three-game stretch to end the season as his signature moment. Brown had 19 rec for 386 yards and 4 TD’s in that pivotal stretch. Simply phenomenal!
1994 Record: 9-7 QB: Jeff Hostetler, Brown Stats: 89 rec 1309 yds 9 TD
1994 brought career-bests in all receiving categories for Mr. Raider. He also led the NFL in punt return yardage. The Raiders were considered a Super Bowl contender in the preseason, but things fell apart quickly with a 1-3 start. The Raiders came all the way back and hosted the hated Chiefs in LA on Christmas Eve in a winner-take-all, loser-goes-home, contest. KC won, 19-9, behind Marcus Allen’s 132 yards. I blame Al.
1995 Record: 8-8 QB: Jeff Hostetler/Vince Evans/Billy Joe Hobert, Brown Stats: 89 rec 1342 yds 10 TD
Another season of career bests from Timmy as the Raiders came back to Oakland and stormed out of the gates with a scorching 8-2 start. Then ‘Hoss got hurt and the whole season went poof. Once again they lost on Christmas Eve to a hated rival, this time to Denver at home, and were knocked out of the playoffs. That made for two straight years of miserable holiday dinners…. Bah-humbug! In an elimination game, Timmy put up 127 yards and 2 TDs with Billy Joe slinging the rock. Just saying.
1996 Record: 7-9 QB: Jeff Hostetler/Billy Joe Hobert, Brown Stats: 90 rec 1104 yds 9 TD
No career highs in 1996, but once again Brown was the leading Raider receiver with not much help to take the pressure off. James Jett and TE Ricky Dudley would never be described as “reliable.” It wasn’t a memorable season.
1997 Record: 4-12 QB: Jeff George, Brown Stats: 104 rec 1408 yds 5 TD
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Tim Brown set career highs in receptions and yards, but the 5 TDs reflect more accurately the Raider’s 1997 season. He had three End Zone trips in Week 1 along with 158 yards, but the Raiders still lost in OT. Brown then had 11 rec and 155 yards in Week 2, but the Raiders lost a two-TD lead in the 2nd Half to the Chiefs. George could throw the football with the best of all-time, but he didn’t know how to win. It didn’t help that the Raiders had the worst defense in the league … and of their history … at least at the time.
1998 Record: 8-8 QB: Jeff George/Donald Hollas, Brown Stats: 81 rec 1012 yds 9 TD
The Jon Gruden era begins, but he still had yet to find a QB. Brown barely crossed the 1000-yard mark with Hollas (um…who?) throwing passes for half the season. It wasn’t pretty, but this season set the tone and table for the best run of Timmy’s Raider career.
1999 Record: 8-8 QB: Rich Gannon, Brown Stats: 90 rec 1344 yds 6 TD
Tim Brown gets the best QB of his career (in Gannon) and shows no signs of slowing down in his 12th season. Twelve years in and the man is still averaging 15 yards a catch! Oakland came back to beat the Chiefs, 41-38, to knock them out of the Playoffs in the season’s final week. It was overdue payback. That was the catalyst for the Raiders’ run through the AFC West over the next few years. Timmy chipped in 122 yards at KC, by the way.
2000 Record: 12-4 AFC West Champs QB: Rich Gannon, Brown Stats: 76 rec 1128 yds 11 TD
A career-high in touchdowns–and finally some help from the rest of the Raiders’ offense–got Brown his second division title. The Raiders led the league in rushing and the team provided Brown with a secondary threat on the outside in the form of Andre Rison. But, once again, Super Bowl dreams were crushed in the AFC title game–this time by the Baltimore Ravens. I still have nightmares of fat man, Tony Siragusa, driving Gannon’s shoulder into the turf and knocking the QB out.
2001 Record: 10-6 AFC West Champs QB: Rich Gannon, Brown Stats: 91 rec 1165 yds 9 TD
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In 2001 Tim Brown finally got to start alongside receiver on par with himself, Jerry Rice. Only the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.!) the Brown- Rice combo could be considered the greatest hands of all-time on one roster. Neither disappointed: each got over 1100 yards and 9 TDs. They helped Oakland win another division title, too. They went on to win a dramatic game in snowy Foxboro. Wait, was that a fumble? Screw this shit! Let’s move on.
2002 Record: 11-5 AFC West Champs QB: Rich Gannon, Brown Stats: 81 rec 930 yds 2 TD
In his 15th season Mr. Raider finally showed signs of slowing down. Brown failed to reach 1000 yards for the first time since 1992. He had only 2 TD’s. However, he still contributed greatly to Oakland’s Super Bowl march and Rich Gannon’s MVP season. Brown may have lost a step, but still had to be accounted for in the Raider’s pass-happy attack. Even with 15 years in, Timmy chalked up over 900 yards and finally earned a well-deserved trip to the Big Dance. I’d like to say it was a storybook ending for Tim Brown … but, well, you know … GRUDEN!!!
2003 Record: 4-12 QB: Rich Gannon/Rick Mirer, Brown Stats: 52 rec 567 yds 2 TD
I have erased all memories of this season. It was truly awful. Tim Brown deserved to go out better than this.
2004 Record: 5-11 QB: Brian Griese/Brad Johnson/Chris Simms, Brown Stats: 24 rec 200 yds 1 TD
Brown is reunited with Gruden for one final season in Tampa and the highlight was his 100th TD reception…in Oakland, no less. I remember it well. He caught the TD right in my End Zone, opposite The Black Hole.
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There you have the NFL story of the remarkable man, Tim Brown. He wasn’t the flashiest of Hall of Fame receivers, but he got the job done every single year.
I am proud to say I was witness to his greatness every Sunday … consistently.
