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Mountains of Santa Monica — Star defensive lineman Jerome Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles died on Thursday, according to authorities, when the sports car he was driving went out of control after he left a car dealership in his hometown of Florida.
According to Brooksville Police Chief Ed Tincher, the single-car accident claimed the life of Brown’s 12-year-old nephew as well. The passenger’s name was withheld for a while.
According to the chief, more information about the mishap won’t be made public until today. Brown, 27, was leaving a Chevrolet dealer at around 5 p.m. EDT when his Corvette skidded and overturned on a road covered in rain off of U.S. 41, he had earlier told reporters on the scene.
Brown was born and raised in Brooksville and spent his off-season there.
The 6-foot-2, 295-pound tackle anchored the Eagles’ defensive line. He went to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons.
“This is a devastating loss to his family, his friends, his community and obviously to this football team,” Eagle General Manager Harry Gamble said. “He was warm and caring. He was a special person.”
Known for his flamboyance, Brown symbolized the outlaw image of the Eagles during Buddy Ryan’s tenure. He spent all of last season’s training camp holding out, but when he returned with a contract worth more than $1 million with incentives, he gave his new coach, Rich Kotite, a hug as he headed for the field for the Eagles’ first game.
The Eagles took Brown as the ninth draft pick in 1987 after he was an All-American at Miami.Brown was an All-American at Miami, and the Eagles selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 1987 draft.
In addition to his generosity off the field—he volunteered to help with children in Philadelphia and launched a football camp this year in his hometown—Brown was well-known for his sense of humor and practical jokes in the locker room.
Kotite remarked, “This football team is obviously devastated because of this loss.” “He touched everyone who came across him. I was definitely touched by him. It still hasn’t fully set in.