Vikings Ring of Honor member Joey Browner passed away Saturday at the age of 65, the team announced Sunday morning.
The franchise did not disclose a cause of death.
Vikings Ring of Honor Joey Browner passed away Saturday at the age of 65. Rick Kolodziej / Minnesota Vikings
A first-round draft pick out of USC, the defensive back spent nine seasons in Minnesota from 1983–91 before playing his final year with the Buccaneers.
Browner was a three-time All-Pro and a six-time Pro Bowler during his time with the Vikings.
He was also named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1980s.
“We’ve lost a great friend and one of the best Vikings teammates,” former Minnesota tight end Steve Jordan told Vikings.com. “God blessed Joey with phenomenal talent and a big heart to love people and be a beacon of positivity. Truly, he will be missed.”
Browner led the Vikings in tackles in 1986 and 1987, helping lift the team to the 1987 NFC Championship.
Vikings legend Joey Browner Rick Kolodziej / Minnesota Vikings
He was also a driving force behind the NFL’s top-ranked defense — in terms of yards allowed — across 1988 in 1989.
Browner ranks second in sacks by a Vikings defensive back and total tackles, and his 37 career interceptions were the fifth-most in franchise history.
Harrison Smith — one of only two other Vikings safeties to be drafted in the first round, along with Lewis Cine — paid tribute to Browner after corralling his 38th career interception last season, saying he “was a guy who helped define what it is to be a safety” and that it was “an honor to be mentioned amongst him.”
The news of Browner’s passing came just one day after the Vikings announced the passing of linebacker Jeff Siemon, who helped bring three Super Bowl titles to Minnesota in the 1970s.
Both Siemon and Browner were named to the 50 Greatest Vikings list in 2010.