Ben Brown’s grandfather played in the original Super Bowl

FOXBOROUGH — When the Patriots take the sector for Tremendous Bowl LX in San Francisco, offensive lineman Ben Brown shall be following in his grandfather’s footsteps.

Allen Brown was a member of the Vince Lombardi-coached Inexperienced Bay Packers groups that received Tremendous Bowl I and II. He was a two-time All-SEC choice at tight-end and was taken within the third spherical of the 1965 draft, though his profession was minimize brief by accidents.

Two of Allen Brown’s sons, together with Ben’s father, Tim Brown, performed soccer at Ole Miss. Ben, who performed at Ole Miss from 2017-2021, makes it three generations of Brown males who performed within the Rebels’ program.

Talking at his locker on Thursday, Brown recalled what it was like seeing his grandfather put on his Tremendous Bowl rings.

“Papa would have each of his Tremendous Bowl 1, Tremendous Bowl 2 rings on,” Brown mentioned. “They weren’t as flashy again then, they’d one or two diamonds on them, nevertheless it was undoubtedly tremendous particular.”

He mentioned his grandfather didn’t discuss an excessive amount of in regards to the video games, preferring to give attention to spending high quality time along with his family members.

“He did some,” Ben mentioned. “However actually my grandfather, he would inform some tales and stuff however he actually cared about his kids and his grandchildren extra.”

Ben, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Patriots earlier this 12 months, mentioned it’s nonetheless exhausting to imagine that New England is again within the Tremendous Bowl. After back-to-back four-win seasons, the Patriots are within the midst of one of many sport’s best turnarounds.

“It’s one thing that I’ve undoubtedly all the time dreamed about,” Brown mentioned. “And now that it’s really taking place, it’s nonetheless type of exhausting to fathom, that we’re going to the Tremendous Bowl.” 

Brown has one other connection to Tremendous Bowl historical past. He’s from Vickburg, Mississippi, which is similar hometown as Patriots Tremendous Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler. Butler caught the game-sealing interception on the aim line the final time the Patriots performed the Seahawks within the Tremendous Bowl, 11 years in the past.

“The Patriots Seahawks one was a giant deal as a result of Malcolm Butler is from Vickburg, Mississippi, in order that was fairly cool to see,” mentioned Brown.

Now, the Patriots are in for a rematch with Seattle. Brown mentioned he’s not fairly positive what his grandfather would say if he had been nonetheless right here. Allen Brown died in 2020.

The youthful Brown is happy to characterize his household and the Patriots on the large stage. Six many years after his grandfather grew to become part of Tremendous Bowl historical past, Brown has an opportunity to make championship reminiscences of his personal.

“The very first thing that comes by way of my thoughts is clearly the fruits of an amazing season,” Brown mentioned. “It’s one thing that everybody strives for, one thing that everybody goals for and solely a small proportion get a possibility to do.” 

Khari A. Thompson

Sports activities Reporter

Khari Thompson covers skilled sports activities for Boston.com. Earlier than becoming a member of the group in 2022, Khari coated school soccer for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.