A FORMER NFL wide receiver has found a new passion in life after 15 seasons as a crucial member of the New England Patriots.
College Football Hall of Famer Troy Brown, 52, followed up his NFL career with a venture into the brewing world.
An investor in the Rhode Island-based Narragansett Brewery, Brown's seemingly relentless drive found a new outlet once he made the investment in 2009.
"It's not that different between (playing for a) team and promoting a product," he explained to Bost Inno in 2011.
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"[With New England] it was winning a Super Bowl and now I have a chance to be successful in something else.
"My drive and determination are probably greater now. It's not too much different in how I approach each day now and how I approached each day then."
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Brown also added that he's "just playing my role to the best of my ability."
Making the most of whatever role he was given was a strength of Brown during his NFL days.
A receiver and return specialist for Marshall University, where he studied computer science, Brown wound up being selected in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by New England.
His role as a return specialist led him to make the roster early in his career, eventually finding his way onto offense in a larger capacity later in his career.
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Brown's best season came in 2001 when he recorded 1,199 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, and another 91 yards rushing as he reached his sole Pro Bowl, led by then-first-year starting quarterback Tom Brady.
That season he also led the league in yards (14.2) and touchdowns per punt return with two.
The Patriots would go on to win Super Bowl XXXVI in February 2002, with Brown leading New England in receiving yards with 89.
Two years later, Brown also started for New England as they won Super Bowl XXXVIII, while also appearing in their win a year later at XXXIX.
Brown's role as a returner would dwindle in the latter stages of his career as he also tried his hand at playing defensive back, racking up three interceptions in 2004.
In 2008, Brown reached the end of the road in the NFL, retiring as New England's all-time leader in punt returns and return yards, as per his bio.
To this day, he still ranks third in all-purpose yardage for the Patriots.
In 2019, Brown returned to New England via the NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship, before assuming the role of wide receivers/kick returners coach in 2020.
