The Baltimore Ravens announced that Orlando Brown Jr. was released from the team on Wednesday, and many people assumed he left because of his father’s ongoing legal battles with the NFL. But Brown Jr. revealed in a statement that it was actually for a much more personal reason: his mother’s health.
Orlando Brown Jr left the Baltimore Ravens after the team drafted his son, Orlando Brown III. The reason was because he wanted to make sure that his son would be able to get a fair shot at playing time.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images photo Orlando Brown Jr., the new left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, is taking his father’s legacy with him as he pursues a Hall-of-Fame career.
The addition of former Baltimore Ravens lineman Orlando Brown Jr to Kansas City’s offensive line in April was a huge boost for the team. But for the 25-year-old, it was more personal, and the tale is as touching as it gets.
Brown’s father, Orlando Brown Sr, died of diabetic ketoacidosis when he was 15 years old. The older Brown, known as “Zeus,” spent 12 years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.
Brown Sr. wanted his son to play left tackle before he died because it’s “the glamour position of the offensive line,” according to ESPN’s Adam Teicher.
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Brown Jr.’s father was so insistent about his son maintaining that position that he flatly refused his high school football coach’s proposal that he play another offensive line position.
“One of the things dad made me promise was that I would be a left tackle and that I would play in this league for ten years or more and be a Hall of Famer,” Orlando Jr. recalled, according to Teicher. My father recognized the importance of [being a left tackle], especially as the offensive line captain and one of the best offensive players. It was simply something that was instilled in me since I was a kid, and… it was a dream and objective I set for myself in this league.
My father was a right tackle in this league while I was growing up. If you weren’t playing left tackle in my home, I wouldn’t say he disowned you, but he did speak back to you. ‘Hey, study Tony Boselli, watch his game, watch Anthony Munoz, watch all these players, watch Bryant McKinnie,’ my father would tell me as a kid. ‘Don’t watch my movie,’ he would say. Obviously, I did since he was my father, but he would often say things like, “Look at the left tackle.”
Brown Jr. will undoubtedly continue his father’s legacy with the club that helped make his goal a reality, even if his father isn’t physically present.
Brown on Returning to Baltimore
Brown will return to Baltimore for the first time since departing for a primetime matchup with the Ravens. He’s excited to play in the arena where he fell in love with football as a Baltimore native and as a result, a fan of the organization.
“I got my passion for the game from seeing my dad play and the original Ravens and all those guys play,” he says. “Every time I go in there, I feel upset because I see the suite where my dad used to sit while he was playing,” Brown told Fox 4 KC. “Whenever I was playing there, I would just stare up at it because I remember fantasizing as a child about being able to play in this league and being able to play left tackle in the NFL.”
The Chiefs’ new left tackle will be put on the spot to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes and lead the visitors to a 2-0 record Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET, bringing the story full circle.
Brown’s Impact on Mahomes’ Development
Despite the fact that they’ve only played one regular-season game together, the Mahomes/Brown relationship is something to keep an eye on. When asked what went well in Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns by Sports Illustrated’s Josh Briscoe, No. 15 acknowledged communication as a major factor.
“To the first part of your question, I think we performed really, very well, particularly considering we were at home, but it was still loud,” Mahomes said. “We were able to get the plays, get the checks at the line of scrimmage, and accomplish what we needed to do because guys went in and out of the huddle.”
Brown agreed, but added that there were a few things he’d want to work on as well.
“There’s a lot for me to improve on basically as an individual, but me and Pat will constantly communicate, making sure we’re on the same page, the offensive line is always on the same page, and just making sure he’s as comfortable as possible in the heat of the moment.”
It’s a good thing they have the next several months to work on their relationship both on and off the field.
READ MORE: Chiefs Fans Couldn’t Wait for Kareem Hunt to Celebrate His TD [WATCH]
Orlando Brown Jr left the Baltimore Ravens for a reason that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The reason is because he was struggling to make an impact on the team. Reference: orlando brown jr news.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Orlando Brown leave Ravens?
Orlando Brown left the Ravens because he wanted to be closer to his family.
What did Ravens get for Orlando Brown?
Ravens got a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft for Orlando Brown.
Did Ravens trade Orlando Brown?
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