Former-NFL Star Dies Unexpectedly at 63

Keith Browner, a former NFL linebacker who played five seasons in the league during the 1980s, has died unexpectedly at the age of 63, his family confirmed.

Browner’s son, Keith Browner Jr., told TMZ Sports that his father passed away suddenly in California on Tuesday. The outlet reported that his death was “unexpected and sudden,” with family members believing it may have been caused by a heart attack. Browner Jr. said his father had been complaining of stomach pain and fatigue in the days leading up to his death.

Before his time in the NFL, Browner was a standout defensive star at the University of Southern California, where he built a reputation as one of the Trojans’ most dominant players. He was selected in the second round of the 1984 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and went on to play three seasons with the team.

He later joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1987 before finishing that same season with the Oakland Raiders. Browner wrapped up his NFL career in 1988 with the San Diego Chargers. Over the course of 65 career games, he recorded 10.5 sacks and earned a reputation as a tough, physical presence on defense.

After leaving the NFL, Browner continued playing professionally in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League, where he won championships with both the Tampa Bay Storm and the Arizona Rattlers.

Football ran deep in Browner’s family. His brothers Jim, Joey, and Ross Browner all played in the NFL, as did his son, Keith Browner Jr. His nephew, Max Starks, also played in the league from 2004 to 2013, winning two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Browner’s sudden passing marks the loss of another member of one of football’s most storied families.