Former NFL coach Charles ‘Kippy’ Brown died on August 31 at age 71, according to public records and team announcements. His cause of death has not been disclosed.
Brown, who began his football career as the first Black quarterback in University of Memphis history, later became a Super Bowl-winning coach as the Seattle Seahawks’ wide receivers coach. He leaves behind a legacy spanning five decades in college and professional football.
Early career and college achievements
Brown played quarterback for the University of Memphis from 1974 to 1977, where he made history as the program’s first Black quarterback. In 1975, he led the Tigers to a 31-20 upset victory over seventh-ranked Auburn, completing 7 of 11 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, including a late scoring pass that sealed the win. He was inducted into the University of Memphis M Club Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, where he also received the Billy J. Murphy Award for his contributions to the sport.
In 2014, Sweetwater High School in Tennessee renamed the street in front of the campus ‘Kippy Brown Way’ in his honor after he quarterbacked the team to state championships in 1971 and 1972.
Coaching career and NFL impact
Brown transitioned to coaching in 1978 at his alma mater, the University of Memphis, before moving to Louisville and later the University of Tennessee, where he helped establish the program’s reputation as ‘Wide Receiver U.’ His Tennessee tenure included coaching future NFL players such as Tim McGee, Anthony Miller, Alvin Harper, and Carl Pickens.
His NFL coaching career spanned 25 years, with stops as a running backs coach for the New York Jets (1990–92), wide receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks, and a brief stint as head coach of the Memphis Maniax in the XFL. He also served as interim head coach at Tennessee in 2010.
Brown’s most notable NFL role came with the Seattle Seahawks (2010–2014), where he was the wide receivers coach during the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in Super Bowl XLVIII and Super Bowl XLIX. He coached standout receivers including Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate, Jermaine Kearse, and Sidney Rice, and was widely praised for his leadership and positive influence on players and staff.
Tributes and legacy
Former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll described Brown as a ‘great friend’ with a ‘positive, good, fun-loving spirit’, noting that his presence brought energy and camaraderie to those around him. Players and colleagues similarly remembered him for his warmth, mentorship, and dedication to the game.
Brown is survived by his wife, Deon Brown. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.