Brig Owens
| No. 23 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Safety | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | February 16, 1943 Linden, Texas, U.S. | ||||||
| Died: | June 21, 2022 (aged 79) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Fullerton Union (Fullerton, California) | ||||||
| College: | Cincinnati | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1965 / Round: 7 / Pick: 89 (by the Dallas Cowboys) | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||
Brigman P. Owens (February 16, 1943 – June 21, 2022) was an American professional
Early years
Owens attended
College career
Owens enrolled at
In 1963, he transferred to the
As a senior, he led the team to a 10-1 record, which were the most wins in school history. He posted 790 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns, 658 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns. He was a passer, runner, and punter, finishing his college career with a 16-5 record, 2 Missouri Valley Conference titles, 1,764 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, 1,214 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.[2]
In 1979, he was inducted into the University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1982, he was inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was inducted into the Fullerton College Athletics Hall of Fame.[3] In 1990, he received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award for his deep commitment to the community and country. In 2012, he was inducted into the California Community College Athletic Association hall of fame.[4]
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Owens was selected by the
Washington Redskins
In
One of his more memorable performances occurred on a 1966 regular season game against the New York Giants, where he scored two defensive touchdowns: a 62-yard interception return and a 62-yard fumble return. Washington ended up winning the game 72–41; to this day it is the highest scoring game in NFL history.
Owens holds the record for most interception return yards in Redskins history (686) and is second all-time for the Redskins in career interceptions (36). Three of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns. He also recovered ten fumbles, returning them for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
He was inducted into the Redskins' Ring of Fame.
Personal life
After the NFL, Owens graduated from Antioch School of Law, and received his Doctorate of Juris Prudence from Potomac Law School, before serving in the National Football League Players Association as an assistant executive director from 1979 to 1984. He also owned his own business, a commercial real estate development company which also represented professional athletes.[7]
Owens was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[8] Married to Patricia from 1965 until his death, the couple had two daughters, Robin and Tracy. He received an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2008. He died on June 21, 2022, at the age of 79.[9]
References
- ^ "Brig Owens Fullerton College Hall of Fame bio" (PDF). Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Brig Owens Cincinnati Hall of Fame bio". Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Hornet Tradition". Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "CCCA HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2012". Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Steffen Traded, Joe Bellino Cut". Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "Washington's Brig Owens Now Happy With Defense". Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "60 Heroes: Brig Owens Continues to Push Union Forward". Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Archived Document". Archived from the original on September 5, 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Jenkins, Keith (22 June 2022). "Cincinnati Bearcats HOF football player Brigman 'Brig' Owens dies at 79". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 22 June 2022.