1963 Profile: Roosevelt Brown

Offensive Tackle
No. 79
Morgan State
"Roosevelt Brown was playing trombone is his high school band when the football coach found better ways to use him. He starred at Morgan State, just made the Giant draft list (No. 27 choice in 1953) and now he's a perennial All-Pro offensive tackle. Just about the fastest tackle off the mark in the league, watch him get those 260 pounds downfield on a punt. Roosevelt's blocking is superb.
He was born in Charlottesville, Virginia."

-Don Schiffer, Pro Football 1963

"Rosey Brown is a long-shot gamble that paid off. According to Wellington Mara, New York Giants' vice-president, a newspaper was responsible for the team acquiring one of its greatest lineman.
'We had no advance information on Brown when we attended the 1953 player draft,' says Mara. 'We hadn't even heard a word about him from our scouts or small college coaches. We were through the first 20 rounds when someone opened a copy of the Pittsburgh Courier and we noticed a listing the Negro All-American team for 1953. Brown was one of the tackles so we drafted him in the 27th round.' Since that day nearly ten years ago, the 6'3", 255-pound graduate of Morgan State College in Maryland has been Associated Press Pro Lineman of the Year (1956) and become a steady fixture at offensive tackle on the All-Pro team.
Rosey was only 20 years old and weighed a mere 215 pounds when he joined the Giants at their training camp in 1954. He still had a lot to learn in those days but worked hard and managed to make the team as a rookie. In the words of coach Allie Sherman: 'Brown is a combination of desire and spirit that's hard to beat.'
In addition to his invaluable work on offense, Rosey also spearheads the downfield tacklers on kickoffs and punts, blocks during extra point attempts and is a key defensive bulwark in New York's great goal-line unit.
'Giant fans are well acquainted with Brown's downfield tackling and blocking,' says Sherman. 'But many don't notice the fine work he does on the line of scrimmage. On the basis of his line blocking, Rosey rates right up there with Jack Stroud - one of the best in the business.'
The 31-year-old Brown was co-captain of his college football team and an outstanding heavyweight wrestler.
What's the key to Rosey's ability? According to shrewd Columbia coach Buff Donelli: 'He simply obliterates the opposition. Brown's so fast and strong he doesn't have to worry about blocking angles and that kind of stuff.'"

-1963 Official Pro Football Almanac