A two-sport star in high school…Aloha Bowl champion at Kansas…Super Bowl XXXI champion with the Green Bay Packers…head coach of a Lingerie Football League team…race car enthusiast…anti-bullying spokesperson. Any conversation about the most interesting athletes in American sports history has to include the one and only Gravedigger himself, Gilbert Brown!
Brown grew up in Detroit, Michigan and lettered in football and track. His experiences in Detroit helped shape the man he would become, beginning with his choice of college. Turning down offers from big schools (including his home state University of Michigan), he chose the quieter confines of the University of Kansas, where he played a big part in helping head coach Glen Mason lift the program to respectability.
While at Kansas, Brown developed the move he’s known for “The Gravedigger.” As one of the best defensive linemen in the Big Eight, he would often pretend to dig a grave after a huge defensive play. Thus, the legend of the Gravedigger was born.
A member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Brown was an integral piece of the Super Bowl XXXI team. During the 1996 season, the Packers defensive line was the best in the league, only allowing 19 touchdowns on the season. Brown ended up with a career-high 51 tackles, and was honored by Burger King restaurants across the state with the “Gilbertburger”: double whopper, extra everything including cheese, no pickles, cut in half.
After his retirement from the NFL, Brown not only created a foundation to help inner-city children, he has also been active in the creation of anti-bullying curricula for schools. He continues to follow racing and professes a love of cars.
Gilbert Brown has really mastered the art of motivational speaking. Discussing real-life topics like overcoming adversity, teamwork, family, anti-bullying, Gilbert always speaks from the heart.
Disclaimer: Mayfield Sports Marketing is a booking agency and speakers bureau working with corporations, associations, memorabilia companies seeking to hire sports and athlete speakers for endorsements, appearances, autograph events, and speaking engagements. We do not claim or represent itself as the exclusive agent, manager or management company for any athlete on this website.
