University Southern California Trojans
Former USC Cornerback and NFL Great Joey Browner Dies
March 30, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—Former USC cornerback and Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor member Joey Browner died on March 28 at the age of 65 of natural causes.Â
Browner was a Trojan team captain in 1982 under USC head coach John Robinson. He lettered from 1979-82.Â
A 1982 First Team All-Conference Selection, Browner also earned the Mike McKever Award, presented to the team MVP, and the Marv Goux Award, presented to player who contributed the most during the USC-UCLA game that same season.Â
He currently ranks No. 15 on USC's all-time punt return leaders with 46 for 409 yards (8.89 avg.) with 1 TD.
He was the Trojans' punt return leader in 1981 (17 for 136 yards [18.0 avg.]) and 1982 (29 for 273 yards [9.4 avg.] with 1 TD). In 1981, he also led the team in pass deflections (16) and fumble recoveries (2). In 1982, Browner was USC's kick return leader (6 for 134 [22.3 avg.]) and fumble recovery leader (3).Â
Browner was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team in 2015.
He was selected with the 19th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Browner was the first defensive back selected in a first round by Minnesota and is the only safety other than Harrison Smith (2012) and Lewis Cine (2022) the Vikings have drafted in the first round.
Browner was selected as an All-Pro First Teamer three times and to six consecutive Pro Bowls in nine seasons (1983-91) for the Vikings. His six consecutive Pro Bowls rank only behind 11 in a row by Randall McDaniel and seven straight by fellow Trojan Ron Yary in franchise lore.
He had 37 interceptions, 18 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries over the course of 138 regular-season games (115 starts) for the franchise. He led the Vikings in tackles in 1986 and 1987, helping Minnesota advance to the 1987 NFC Championship Game against Washington. He recorded six interceptions that season.
He helped the Vikings produce the NFL's top-ranked defense (yards allowed) in 1988 and 1989.
Browner ranks third in team history for games played by a safety behind Smith (207) and Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowler Paul Krause (172). He ranks second in sacks by a Vikings defensive back (9.5) and total tackles (987 according to team stats). His 37 career interceptions rank fifth all-time in franchise history.
Browner spent his final NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992.
He was named to the NFL's 1980s Team of the Decade and inducted in the Vikings' Ring of Honor in 2013. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010.
Browner was part of a football family. His older brother Ross Browner was an edge rusher who played 10 NFL seasons, nine with the Cincinnati Bengals (1978-86) and one for Green Bay (1978). His other brother, Jim Browner, was a defensive back for Cincinnati in 1979 and 1980. His younger brother Keith Browner played 65 NFL games for four teams from 1984-88.Â
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Browner was a Trojan team captain in 1982 under USC head coach John Robinson. He lettered from 1979-82.Â
A 1982 First Team All-Conference Selection, Browner also earned the Mike McKever Award, presented to the team MVP, and the Marv Goux Award, presented to player who contributed the most during the USC-UCLA game that same season.Â
He currently ranks No. 15 on USC's all-time punt return leaders with 46 for 409 yards (8.89 avg.) with 1 TD.
He was the Trojans' punt return leader in 1981 (17 for 136 yards [18.0 avg.]) and 1982 (29 for 273 yards [9.4 avg.] with 1 TD). In 1981, he also led the team in pass deflections (16) and fumble recoveries (2). In 1982, Browner was USC's kick return leader (6 for 134 [22.3 avg.]) and fumble recovery leader (3).Â
Browner was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team in 2015.
He was selected with the 19th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Browner was the first defensive back selected in a first round by Minnesota and is the only safety other than Harrison Smith (2012) and Lewis Cine (2022) the Vikings have drafted in the first round.
Browner was selected as an All-Pro First Teamer three times and to six consecutive Pro Bowls in nine seasons (1983-91) for the Vikings. His six consecutive Pro Bowls rank only behind 11 in a row by Randall McDaniel and seven straight by fellow Trojan Ron Yary in franchise lore.
He had 37 interceptions, 18 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries over the course of 138 regular-season games (115 starts) for the franchise. He led the Vikings in tackles in 1986 and 1987, helping Minnesota advance to the 1987 NFC Championship Game against Washington. He recorded six interceptions that season.
He helped the Vikings produce the NFL's top-ranked defense (yards allowed) in 1988 and 1989.
Browner ranks third in team history for games played by a safety behind Smith (207) and Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowler Paul Krause (172). He ranks second in sacks by a Vikings defensive back (9.5) and total tackles (987 according to team stats). His 37 career interceptions rank fifth all-time in franchise history.
Browner spent his final NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992.
He was named to the NFL's 1980s Team of the Decade and inducted in the Vikings' Ring of Honor in 2013. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010.
Browner was part of a football family. His older brother Ross Browner was an edge rusher who played 10 NFL seasons, nine with the Cincinnati Bengals (1978-86) and one for Green Bay (1978). His other brother, Jim Browner, was a defensive back for Cincinnati in 1979 and 1980. His younger brother Keith Browner played 65 NFL games for four teams from 1984-88.Â
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