Football community mourns the death of Cowboys RB coach Gary Brown

On Sunday, former Dallas Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown passed away at 52 years old. The well-respected coach was in hospice care for several weeks dealing with several health issues due to his long battle with cancer over the past several years.

In addition to being admired, respected, and loved by his players, coworkers, and staff, Brown also had a successful football career of his own. He started his football career as a collegiate standout at Penn State. From there, he amassed over 4,300 yards in the NFL from 1991 to 1999. He spent time with the Houston Oilers, San Diego Chargers, and New York Giants.

Brown coached at multiple colleges before landing an NFL coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 2009. His first cancer diagnosis came while he was with Cleveland. In 2013, he was hired by the Cowboys and spent seven years with the team, leading three backs to over 1,000-yard seasons. The former running back was not retained after the 2019 season, and his wife later announced on social media that he would be taking the 2020 year off after yet another tumor was found in his pancreas.

A year later, Brown was back to coaching. This time, with the Wisconsin Badgers. He served as their running backs coach and played a large role in helping Braelon Allen accumulate 1,268 yards in his freshman season. Here is what the coach had to say about his time away from football before the 2021 NCAA season:

"“What it did for me is it made me appreciate every day, made me sort of maximize every day and make sure you don’t leave anything on the table in life, with your family, with football, whatever you’re doing at that particular point,” Brown said last summer. “It just made me focus on what’s good in your life and take advantage of everything you have in your life.”"

He was a man who loved the game and his players. That was clearly shown by the incredible outpour of messages and support from all around the football community. Cowboys personnel, Cowboys reporters, and many others shared their thoughts and memories with coach Brown on Sunday.

The Dallas Cowboys and NFL community react to the tragic passing of seven-year running backs coach Gary Brown

Emmitt Smith shared that it was an overall tough weekend for football, with several losses occurring around the league.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones released a long statement touching on his positivity and impact.

Brown helped DeMarco Murray achieve a 1,000-yard season in 2013 and 2014.

Despite being a tight end, Dalton Schultz seemed to have a great relationship with the Cowboys’ RB coach.

FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer called him a lightbulb in the room.

Former defensive tackle Shaun Smith talked about Brown’s love for music.

Jay March shed light on Brown’s personality.

NFL’s Cowboys reporter Jane Slater shared a fun moment between Brown and Eagles fans before a game.

Former teammate Tyoka Jackson shared kind words about Brown.

The Giants remembered Brown’s 1,000-yard season with the team.

Cowboys reporter Calvin Watkins shed light on how well respected he was in the football community.

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst mentioned his profound impact in just one year.

Braelon Allen shared a kind tribute to the coach who helped him have a breakout year.

If these messages tell us anything, it’s that a coach at any level can have a profound impact on a player, staff, and organization at large. Brown clearly had an infectious personality that brought light and positivity to his teams despite what he was battling internally. The Landry Hat writers send our condolences to his wife Kim and his three children.