Kippy Brown, the coach who helped our Seattle Seahawks wide receivers secure a Super Bowl ring in 2014, passed away this week at 71 years old. This guy wasn’t just another coach; he was a key part of that incredible run, a true football lifer with a career that touched so many.
A Coaching Legacy Beyond the Emerald City
Brown spent a remarkable 22 seasons as an NFL assistant, leaving his mark on multiple franchises before landing in Seattle. He started his NFL journey way back in 1990 as the running backs coach for the New York Jets. He was the Houston Texans’ first wide receivers coach, hired by Dom Capers in February 2002, seven months before that franchise even played its first game. He even interviewed for the Texans’ head coaching job after their 2-14 season in 2005, a role that eventually went to Gary Kubiak.
His impact was clear; he coached Hall of Famer Andre Johnson for three seasons in Houston, and Johnson openly credited Brown for helping him evolve into a true professional. Johnson told the Houston Chronicle in 2009, “We talked a lot. He always told me, ‘Just keep working, things aren’t going to be the way they were in college.’” Brown also served as offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins for two seasons under Jimmy Johnson and was the associate head coach for the Detroit Lions during their brutal 0-16 season in 2008. The man saw it all.
From Wide Receiver U. to Our Super Bowl Glory
Before his extensive NFL career, Brown was a trailblazer as the first Black quarterback at Memphis State from 1974-77. He had three separate stints as an assistant at the University of Tennessee, where he first coached receivers from 1983-89. That period was so good, the school earned the nickname “Wide Receiver U.” due to the talent like Alvin Harper and Carl Pickens that he helped develop. He even briefly became interim head coach there in 2010 after Lane Kiffin bolted for USC. He was also a head coach in the short-lived XFL with the Memphis Maniax in 2001.
But for us in Seattle, Kippy Brown will always be remembered for one thing: that Super Bowl ring. He served as our Seahawks’ receivers coach in 2014, helping craft one of the most memorable teams in NFL history. He hung up his whistle and retired just a year later. It’s a tough loss for the football community, but his contribution to our history, to that iconic season, means he will always be a part of the 12s’ hearts. We owe him a tip of the cap for his passion and for helping bring home a championship.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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