Norris Brown, a tight end on the University of Georgia’s 1980 national championship team, died July 31. He was 65.
Brown never generated the national spotlight that followed teammates Herschel Walker and Buck Belue, but for three seasons in Athens he occupied a vital role on one of the most celebrated teams in college football.
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A native of Laurens, South Carolina, Brown arrived at Georgia in 1979 as head coach Vince Dooley was assembling the foundation of a dynasty. By his sophomore season, the Bulldogs were unbeaten, SEC champions, and on their way to a 12-0 finish.
Georgia capped its 1980 season with a Sugar Bowl victory over Notre Dame, securing the program’s second national championship and first since 1942.
At 6-foot-4 with reliable hands and uncommon athleticism for the era, Brown emerged as one of Belue’s favorite downfield targets.
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Brown caught 12 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns during the championship season, production that reflected Georgia’s run-heavy offense but understated his importance. Defenses consumed with stopping Walker often paid the price when Brown slipped behind the secondary.
“Heavy heart this weekend hearing about the passing of former UGA teammate TE Norris Brown,” Belue, the Bulldogs’ quarterback and later a popular media personality, wrote on Twitter/X. “Talented & skilled athlete & a wonderful teammate. I will miss him!”
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One of his signature moments came against Auburn in the game that effectively clinched the SEC title, when Brown hauled in a touchdown that remains a cherished memory for Georgia fans.
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Brown finished his collegiate career with 44 receptions for 832 yards and 10 touchdowns while helping Georgia win three consecutive SEC championships from 1980-82.
Brown was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL Draft and later played in the USFL, but his enduring legacy was forged between the hedges at Sanford Stadium.
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