Biography

BIOGRAPHY

John Brown was born April 3, 1990, in Homestead, Florida. He is a wide receiver in the NFL. In 2008, Brown enrolled at Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina. Brown was named the SAC Freshman of the Year, after catching 27 passes for 619 yards and seven touchdowns while leading the team with 1,472 all-purpose yards. Due to academic troubles, he sat out the 2009 season before transferring to Coffeyville Community College in 2010, but he was redshirted. Unable to play at Coffeyville, Brown considered a transfer to MidAmerica Nazarene University, where his half-brother James Walker had played. Before Brown and Walker could play together, however, Walker was shot multiple times in July 2010 and died in April 2011 from his injuries. Walker's ailing condition and eventual demise motivated Brown to keep playing football despite his past hardships, and he eventually earned a scholarship to play for Pittsburg State University.

In 2011, he was a second-team AP Little All-American as an all-purpose player while leading Pittsburg State to the NCAA Division II National Championship. He was named first-team All-MIAA as a kick returner and second-team All-MIAA as a wide receiver after he led his team with 61 receptions for 1,216 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2012, he was named a first-team AP Little All-American as an all-purpose player, and first-team All-MIAA as a kick returner and wide receiver. He was named the MIAA and the NCAA Division II National Special Teams Player of the Year. Brown started 10 games and led the team with 63 receptions for 973 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2013, he was named the 2013 MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year as well as the NCAA Division II National Special Teams Player of the Year. He was also named a second-team AP Little All-American as an all-purpose player and first-team All-MIAA player as a kick returner and wide receiver. He caught 61 passes for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He finished as Pitt State’s all-time leader in receptions (185), receiving yards (3,380), and receiving touchdowns (34). His 3,380 receiving yards ranks fifth in MIAA history. Between receiving, rushing, and return yards, Brown finished his career with 7,716 all-purpose yards, 6,244 at Pitt State.

Brown was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round (91st overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. Brown was the first Pittsburg State Gorilla drafted since Ronald Moore in 1993. In 2015 Brown and the Cardinals enjoyed a terrific season, finishing the regular season at 13-3. Brown concluded the regular season with 65 receptions on 101 targets for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. The Cardinals ultimately lost in the NFC Championship game to the Carolina Panthers. His 2016 and 2017 seasons were plagued with injuries.

On March 13, 2018, Brown signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. After scoring his first Ravens touchdown in the season-opener against the Buffalo Bills, he would go on to record 92 yards and his second touchdown (a 21-yard reception) against the Cincinnati Bengals the next game. In Week 4, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he recorded three receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown in the victory. He finished the season with 42 receptions for a team-leading 715 yards and five touchdowns. On March 13, 2019, Brown signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Buffalo Bills.

During the season opener against the New York Jets on September 8, 2019, Brown finished with seven receptions for 123 yards, including the go-ahead 38-yard touchdown reception in a 17–16 win after trailing 16-0. In a Week 7 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, Brown caught a go-ahead touchdown from Josh Allen in the fourth quarter, giving Buffalo a 17–14 lead. The Bills would go on to win 31–21 as Brown caught five passes for 83 yards and the touchdown. During the rematch with the Dolphins in Week 11, Brown finished with 137 receiving yards and two touchdowns as the Bills won 37–20. During the Thanksgiving Series against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13, Brown completed one pass for a 28-yard touchdown to rookie running back Devin Singletary. Brown also finished with 26 receiving yards himself as the Bills won 26-15. During a 17–10 Week 15 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown helped the Bills to victory with seven catches for 99 yards, as the Bills clinched a playoff berth for the second time in three seasons. In Week 16 against the New England Patriots, Brown caught one pass for a 53-yard touchdown during the 24–17 loss. Brown's touchdown reception was the first one allowed by All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore all season. Overall, he finished the 2019 season with 72 receptions for 1,060 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.

In 2020 a season-opening 27-17 victory over the New York Jets, Brown was targeted ten times, catching six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. In his third game of the year, Brown suffered an injury to his calf. In Week 10, Brown suffered a high ankle sprain and was placed on injured reserve on November 28, 2020. He was activated from injured reserve and subsequently placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 28, 2020. He was activated from the COVID list four days later. He played in Buffalo's season finale against the Dolphins, catching four passes for 72 yards, one touchdown in Buffalo's 56-26 win. In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, Brown received 8 receptions for a total of 62 yards.

In 2021 he signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.

On October 12, 2021, the Denver Broncos signed Brown to their practice squad.