Ivory Lee Brown (born August 17, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and World League of American Football (WALF). He played college football for the Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions. Afterwards, he played for the Phoenix Cardinals of the NFL"Ivory Lee Brown." www.nfl.com. Retrieved June 15, 2011. and the San Antonio Riders of the WLAF."Ivory Lee Brown Career Stats." The Football Database. www.footballdb.com. Retrieved June 15, 2011 Brown is the uncle of former NFL running back Adrian Peterson."Adrian Peterson." www.jockbio.com. Retrieved May 29, 2013.Loveless, Lee. "Palestine High School Wall of Honor: Richard Farris and Ivory Lee Brown." Palestine Herald-Press, July 20, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
College career Brown was born in Palestine, Texas, and was a highly recruited running back out Palestine High School. He rushed for 1,800 yards as a senior in 1986, and was the rated the #2 recruit in Texas.Stark, Shane. "Sons continue Brown's legacy in Palestine." www.etfinalscore.com, September 8, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2013.Murphy, Austin. Sports Illustrated, September 3, 1990. SI Vault. Retrieved May 29, 2013. Brown originally intended to sign with Texas A&M University out of high school, but due to SAT problems, he attended Tyler Junior College instead."Tyler Junior College Sports Circle of Honor: Ivory Lee Brown (2013)." www.tjc.edu. Retrieved May 22, 2017."Football in the Pros: Ivory Lee Brown." www.apacheathletics.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019. While at junior college, Brown was recruited to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff by head coach Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley. Cooley had formerly coached Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley State University, and had recently come to UAPB, which was an NAIA school at the time. In 1989, Brown's first season with the Golden Lions, he led the NAIA in rushing with 1,465 yards, averaging 8.3 yards per carry."Football Regular Season Records." www.naia.org. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
Professional career
NFL
Brown was selected by the Phoenix Cardinals in the seventh round (171st pick overall) of the 1991 NFL draft. He was placed on the team's developmental squad, and did not see any playing time during his rookie season. www.databasefootball.com. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
WLAF The San Antonio Riders of the fledgling World League of American Football signed Brown in 1992 to replace running back Ricky Blake, who had signed with the Dallas Cowboys at the conclusion of the 1991 season. He played with the Riders in 1992 and won the league's rushing title with 767 yards. His efforts helped the Riders to a 7–3 record, and he was named first-team All World League,"1992 WLAF rushing leaders." www.footballdb.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012. giving him an opportunity to return to the Cardinals for the 1992 NFL regular season.
Return to the NFL Brown emerged as a potential starter due to running back Johnny Johnson's unexpected pre-season holdout.Associated Press."Johnny who? Ivory Lee Brown replacing holdout in backfield and in fans hearts." Kingman Daily Miner, August 30, 1992. Retrieved June 14, 2013. Brown played in seven games, starting five, during the 1992 NFL season, but did not make the Cardinals roster in 1993 and later retired. He had 68 carries for 194 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL career.
See also UAPB Golden Lions football
References
External links NAIA Players in the Pros.