Josh Brown (American football)

Joshua Brown (born April 29, 1979) is an American football placekicker who is currently a kicker for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.

Brown has also played for the St. Louis Rams and New York Jets.

Early years
Brown was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He began his football career after his family moved from Tulsa when he was in eighth-grade and he subsequently attended Foyil High School. Brown then became a running back, safety, punter, placekicker, kickoff returner, and punt returner. He made a 61-yard field goal in the state playoffs in 1996. He also ran for 1,891 yards and scored 51 touchdowns that season and finished his Foyil High School career with 9,136 all-purpose yards and 122 scores.

He was a four-year letterman in both football and track and earned three basketball letters. A two-time Class A state champion in the high jump, he jumped 6;ft 8 in (2.03 m) to win the Oklahoma state title in the high jump in 1997 and 1998. He qualified for the state finals in the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes.

College career
He was the kicker for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He finished third on Nebraska’s all-time scoring list with 315 points, topped only by Kris Brown (388, 1995–98) and Eric Crouch (368 points, 1998–2001). As a senior, All-Big 12 Conference first-team selection by the league’s coaches and The Kansas City Star, adding second-team honors from the Associated Press after leading the team in scoring with 88 points, connecting on 14 of 18 field goals (77.8%) and all 46 extra-point attempts. Named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week versus Arizona State. Appeared in 10 games as a junior scoring 64 points (third on the team), making 10 of 14 field goals and 34 of 37 extra-point attempts. Had a pair of conversions versus Miami in the Rose Bowl. Scored 75 points during sophomore season and was successful on five of 10 field goals and set a school record with 60 consecutive extra points. Booted a 51-yarder and set an NCAA bowl record as he connected on all nine extra-point attempts versus Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. Took over placekicking chores freshman year, connecting on 14 of 20 field goals and 46 of 47 extra points as he scored 88 points. Redshirted as a freshman.

He majored in communications.

Seattle Seahawks
Josh Brown was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the 222nd overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft.

On October 23, 2005 while playing against the Dallas Cowboys he made two field goals over 50 yards: a 55 yarder and a 50 yarder as time expired to win the game.

On October 15, 2006, he kicked a 54-yard game-winning field goal while time ran out against the St. Louis Rams to win the game 30-28. Although it would have been a 49 yard kick, Seattle was called for an illegal formation penalty. Unlike a false start penalty there was no 10-second run-off so Brown still had a chance to work his magic, albeit from 54 yards out. On November 27, 2006, he tied his career best by kicking four field goals in a snowy Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers, and amazingly, all four field goals were made in the first half. On December 3, 2006, Brown kicked a 51 yard field goal to win the game against the Denver Broncos, making it his fourth game winning kick in the last minute in the 2006 season.

His NFL career long is a 58-yard field goal against the Green Bay Packers during his rookie season.

On February 22, 2007, the Seattle Seahawks used their franchise tag on Josh Brown.

On November 18, 2007, Josh Brown made highlights by tackling and nearly stripping the ball from Pro Bowl kick returner Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears during a third-quarter kickoff.

As of November 2009, Brown has a perfect passer rating of 158.3 with one completion in one attempt for 36 yards and a touchdown.

St. Louis Rams


On February 29, 2008, Brown signed with the St. Louis Rams who made him the NFL's highest paid kicker at the time. The Seahawks had offered comparable money, but with an extra year and back loaded the whole deal. Which also would have made Brown the highest paid kicker, but he took offense to the fact that the Seahawks' contract was something Brown got offered after visiting the St. Louis Rams. In an interview on Seattle sports radio station KJR 950 Brown stated that he had not wanted to be a "slave to the businessman," a statement that was ridiculed by Seattle media and fans. On August 13, 2011 Josh made a 60 yard field goal in a preseason game against the Colts. Had it been a regular season game, it would have recorded as a career long, but unfortunately in preseason games stats do not record.

The Rams cut him in April 2012 in preparation for drafting Greg Zuerlein in the 2012 NFL Draft. He was in the final year of his $14.2 million 5-year deal with the Rams.

New York Jets
Brown was signed by the New York Jets on May 1, 2012 to compete with incumbent Nick Folk. Brown was released by the team on August 27, 2012.

Cincinnati Bengals
Brown was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals on December 6, 2012 due to an injury to Mike Nugent. Brown beat out Neil Rackers and Billy Cundiff for the job. On December 23, 2012 Brown kicked the game winning field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers to send the Bengals to their first back to back playoff berths since the 1981-1982 seasons.

Other work
During his time with the Seahawks, Brown hosted his own TV show on Fox Sports Net. A running segment on the show was called "Can you kick it?" where fans attempted to kick a variety of odd items and then Josh reviews their efforts.

During his time with the Seahawks, Brown had a relationship with Seattle radio station KMPS, particularly the morning show Ichabod Caine and the Waking Crew. He would often guest host along with KMPS radio personality Randy Scott in Ichabod Caine's absence.

Brown had lost a friend to cystic fibrosis, which led him to establish The Josh Brown Giving Project. Its mission is to "help improve the quality of life for our youth, increase physical activity and to assure the development for the means to find a cure and control cystic fibrosis."

Brown had a cameo in the 2010 film Jackass 3D. He kicked a football at Preston Lacy's face.