Kahzir Brown didn’t mince words when asked how his Trenton roots will help him navigate his NFL journey.
“To be from Trenton,” Brown said, “you have to be tough.”
That’s the trait Brown promises the Green Bay Packers will see when he reports to training camp later this month.
“With all the ups and downs I’ve been through in life I’ve always remained a strong and smart guy,” Brown said after he finished up a workout. “Toughness can get you a long way. Then being smart and knowing what I’m supposed to do and what I’m not supposed to do. I’ve navigated it before, so growing up here taught me what to do and what not to do.”
Brown is one of a number of Trenton-bred players in town this week for Saturday’s Ji’Ayir Brown’s Youth Football Clinic in partnership with the Education Outweighs Them All (EOTA) Foundation.
“One day one of these guys might be in the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award,” said longtime Trenton High athletic trainer David ‘Poppy’ Sanderson, who organizes the event with Mercer County Commissioner Terrance Stokes. “Say listen man you can come out of this situation and good things will happen, you can go to college (because) that’s what it’s all about and anything after that is icing on the cake.”
That sentiment is echoed by every player who has come out of the capital city.
“People view it as a place that will not be successful, but just proving the naysayers wrong and being able to be that face, that person who persevered through all the negativity and bad things they say about Trenton,” Kahzir Brown said. “I put on for my city and show we can really do it. There are people here who can play professional football. We have the talent, we have the guys who are good character and just being one of those guys.
“But also motivating and shining a light on the city. The kids see us and they get happy. That’s why I always come back home because people see and say hey let’s take a picture. I’m really working hard and they can push themselves hard to get where I am because there is life out there outside of Trenton. I love being able to come home and see people smiling and be happy.”
Green Bay Packers safety Kahzir Brown (35) during practice at NFL football minicamp, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Ji’Ayir Brown said it’s important to highlight players like Kahzir Brown (they’re cousins) who have put themselves in position to be an NFL player. Kahzir Brown went undrafted following three seasons at the University of Maine and one at Florida Atlantic University.
“I want people to know his story because he’s a lot like me,” said Ji’Ayir Brown, who is entering his third season with the San Francisco 49ers. “He’s a guy from Trenton who made it and is doing big things with the Packers.”
Kahzir said he used to hitch a ride with Ji’Ayir or Bill Hackett, another defensive back who played at UAlbany and in the Canadian Football League, to workouts when he was younger.
“It motivated me to keep doing better because there’s life outside this,” Kahzir said. “Once he went to Penn State, it was eye opening for me because I’m doing what he’s doing, I’m working out how he’s working out. I’m going to do it, too. I’m going to be one of the good examples people see and smile about.”
The 22-year-old is a 6-1, 223-pound safety who was productive for three seasons at the FCS level (142 tackles, 6 INT, 23 passes defended in 32 games at Maine) and one at the FBS level (44 tackles, 2 INT, 10 passes defended at FAU).
“Green Bay is a winning program,” Kahzir said. “They are really tough, really big on communicating, really big on love and keeping people together. That’s what I like about Green Bay. It’s about the people and connections and love for one another. And if you keep everybody together, then everybody wins together.”
Now mix in a little Trenton toughness.
Originally Published: July 9, 2025 at 12:37 PM EDT