Derrick Brown (born April 15, 1998) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers, earning unanimous All-American honors and being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. Brown was selected seventh overall by the Panthers in the 2020 NFL draft and earned his first Pro Bowl selection following the 2023 season.
Early life Brown attended Lanier High School, where he played defensive tackle. During his high school career, he recorded 270 tackles, 33.5 quarterback sacks, five forced fumbles and three interceptions.
The 247Sports Composite ranked Brown as the No. 9 overall recruit, No. 4 defensive tackle and No. 1 player in Georgia in the class of 2016. A five-star recruit, he committed to play college football for the Auburn Tigers on February 3, 2016.
College career As a freshman in 2016, Brown played in all 13 games and recorded 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack, and recovered a fumble. As a sophomore in 2017, he started all 14 games and recorded 56 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
As a junior in 2018, Brown recorded 48 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) honors. As a senior in 2019, he recorded 55 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, along with two forced fumbles and four pass breakups. He earned unanimous All-American honors and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Senior CLASS Award.
Professional career
Brown was selected seventh overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2020 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2020, worth a fully guaranteed $23.621 million.
2020–2022 Brown spent four days on the reserve/COVID-19 list in December 2020. In Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers, Brown recorded his first two career sacks on Aaron Rodgers during the 24–16 loss. He finished his rookie season with 34 tackles and two sacks in 16 games, including 15 starts, and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
In the 2021 season, Brown played in 16 games, making 14 starts, and recorded 41 tackles and three sacks.
Brown started all 17 games in 2022 and recorded 67 tackles and one sack. His tackle total tied Mike Rucker's single-season franchise record for a defensive lineman. In Week 3 of the 2022 season against the New Orleans Saints, Brown recorded his first career interception on Jameis Winston in the Panthers' 22–14 win.
2023 season In the 2023 season, Brown recorded 103 combined tackles, setting an NFL single-season record for a defensive lineman in records dating to 1994. On January 19, 2024, he was selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games as a replacement for Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
2024–present On April 5, 2024, Brown agreed to a four-year, $96 million contract extension with the Panthers. The deal included $63.165 million guaranteed.
Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of the 2024 season and was placed on injured reserve on September 10, 2024.
Brown returned in 2025, playing in all 17 regular-season games and recording 73 tackles and a career-high five sacks. His teammates selected him as the Panthers' recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award for 2025.
Brown made his postseason debut in the 2025–26 NFL playoffs. He recorded five tackles in the Panthers' 31–34 loss to the Rams in the Wild Card Round on January 10, 2026.
He ranked 90th in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026, his first appearance on the list.
Career statistics NFL + Legend NFL record (DT position) Bold Career high
Regular season Year Team Tackles Interceptions Fumbles 2020 CAR 16 15 21 13 34 8 2.0 12 0 0 4 0 0 2021 CAR 16 14 27 14 41 8 3.0 9 0 0 4 0 0 2022 CAR 17 17 30 37 67 5 1.0 12 1 0 7 0 0 2023 CAR 17 17 57 46 103 7 2.0 15 1 2 6 0 0 2024 CAR 1 1 1 2 3 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2025 CAR 17 17 33 40 73 5 5.0 11 0 0 7 1 0Career 84 81 169 152 321 33 13.0 59 2 2 28 1 0
Postseason Year Team Tackles Interceptions Fumbles 2025 CAR 1 1 4 1 5 0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0Career 1 1 4 1 5 0 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0
College + College statistics, including postseason games Year Team Class Tackles Pass defense Fumbles 2016 Auburn FR 13 3 8 11 1.5 1.0 0 1 0 1 2017 Auburn SO 14 28 28 56 9.0 3.5 0 1 2 0 2018 Auburn JR 13 24 24 48 10.5 4.5 0 2 1 1 2019 Auburn SR 13 33 22 55 12.5 4.0 0 4 2 2 Career 53 88 82 170 33.5 13.0 0 8 5 4
Personal life By July 2025, Brown and his wife had four children.
References
External links
Carolina Panthers bio Auburn Tigers bio