Ed Brown, who led the Bears to the 1956 NFL title game and was a leader of the University of San Francisco’s 9-0 team in 1951, died Thursday from prostate cancer in Kennewick, Ky., according to his daughter. He was 78.
In 1952, Brown was drafted by the Bears in the sixth round. But he also was drafted by the Marines and spent two years in service before joining the Bears in 1954 as the third-string quarterback to George Blanda and Zeke Bratkowski.
In 1955, with Bratkowski in the military, Brown beat out Blanda for the starting job, leading the Bears to an 8-4 record. The following year under new head coach Paddy Driscoll, Brown led the league in passing as the Bears won the Western Conference at 9-2-1. They lost the title game to the New York Giants 47-7.
Brown earned the nickname “All-Around Brown” at USF, where he played quarterback, kicker and punter.
The two-time Pro Bowler, who was the Bears punter, was traded to the Steelers in 1961.
He is survived by a sister, Greta Gerrie; a brother, Clarence Brown; a son, Beau Brown; a daughter, Brooke Brownie; and two grandchildren. Services will be Saturday in California.
![Residents and taxpayers of Barrington School District 220 rated safety and security, and a new auditorium at Barrington High School, as priorities for the school district, officials learned as community input was collected in preparation for a potential multi-million-dollar referendum that would be placed on the ballot in the November election. The data was shared with school board members April 2 by EO Sullivan Consulting, which was hired by the district to collect community feedback through phone and online surveys, four public engagement sessions and referendum advisory committee meetings. Information had been collected in three phases and began earlier this […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/PPN-L-bcr-district-220-feferend-002.jpg?w=390 "Residents and taxpayers of Barrington School District 220 rated safety and security, and a new auditorium at Barrington High School, as priorities for the school district, officials learned as community input was collected in preparation for a potential multi-million-dollar referendum that would be placed on the ballot in the November election. The data was shared with school board members April 2 by EO Sullivan Consulting, which was hired by the district to collect community feedback through phone and online surveys, four public engagement sessions and referendum advisory committee meetings. Information had been collected in three phases and began earlier this […]")