Tim Brown proved to be everything that the Los Angeles Raiders had hoped for after selecting the Heisman Trophy winner out of Notre Dame in the first round, sixth overall, of the 1988 NFL Draft.
Over the next 17 seasons, all but one year spent with the Raiders in Los Angeles and later Oakland, Brown developed into one of the greatest receivers of his era.
He managed to haul in 43 receptions and score 5 TDs as a rookie but it was as a kick returner that he received accolades.
Brown was named first-team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL in kickoff returns (41 for 1,098 yards, 26.8 average, and 1 TD) and setting a rookie record for combined net yards.
Starting in 1993, Brown recorded nine straight 1,000-yard seasons and 10 consecutive years with 75 or more catches.
His best season came in 1997, a year in which he became the Raiders’ all-time receiving leader. He caught 104 catches for 1,408 yards to win the NFL receiving title. He set a team record with seven 100-yard games and tied a NFL mark with five games with 150-plus yards receiving.
He retired after one final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004 as the third all-time leading receiver with 1,094 receptions for 14,934 yards, and 100 touchdowns.