Joey Browner made six Pro Bowls with Minnesota and was All-Pro four times. Stephen Dunn / Getty Images
March 29, 2026Updated 3:07 pm EDT
Joey Browner, a longtime NFL safety and one of the members of the Minnesota Vikings’ Ring of Honor, died Saturday at the age of 65, the team announced.
The Vikings did not disclose the cause of Browner’s death. His passing follows the death of another legendary Vikings defender, linebacker Jeff Siemon, who also died Saturday, according to the team.
Browner became a Vikings safety in 1983, when the team made him its first-ever safety selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. He had thrived at USC as a cornerback, and his ability quickly translated into the NFL as a safety.
In 1985, Browner became a Pro Bowler for the first time. Two years later, he was honored with his first of four All-Pro nominations. Only Randall McDaniel (11) and Ron Yary (seven) made more consecutive Pro Bowls for the Vikings than Browner. He was also named as a safety on the 1980s NFL Team of the Decade.
Browner played in 138 games and started 115 of them. He intercepted 37 passes and forced 17 fumbles. Browner also recovered 17 fumbles and tallied four defensive touchdowns. His interception mark remains fifth in team history behind Paul Krause, Bobby Bryant, Ed Sharockman and Harrison Smith.
Smith, specifically, referenced Browner when he broke Browner’s number in 2025.
In 2010, the Vikings included Browner in their collection of the 50 Greatest Vikings of all time. Browner finished his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was added to Minnesota’s Ring of Honor in 2013 — an exclamation point on a career that was synonymous with the team’s defensive dominance in the late 1980s.
Mar 30, 2026
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