Ben Brown is about to take the biggest stage in football, but for the New England Patriots offensive lineman, this moment is more than just a personal milestone - it’s a continuation of a family legacy that stretches back to the dawn of the Super Bowl era.
Brown’s grandfather, Allen Brown, was part of the legendary Green Bay Packers teams of the 1960s. As a backup tight end, he earned two championship rings with Vince Lombardi’s Packers, celebrating victories in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II. Now, nearly 60 years later, his grandson has a chance to add another ring to the family collection - this time in a Patriots uniform.
“That was always pretty cool,” Ben said, reflecting on his grandfather’s place in football history. “Growing up, we didn’t really fully understand what that meant, but you would just see Papa would have both of his Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II rings on. They weren’t as flashy back then - they had one or two diamonds on them - but definitely super special.”
Allen Brown passed away in 2020, but his quiet pride and deep love for family left a lasting impression. While he didn’t often dwell on his playing days, his presence loomed large in Ben’s life - not just as a former NFL player, but as a grandfather who prioritized his kids and grandkids over gridiron glory.
“He did some, but really my grandfather, he didn’t really like - he would talk some stories and stuff, but he really cared about his children and his grandchildren more,” Ben said.
The football bloodline runs deep in the Brown family, and like his grandfather, Ben played his college ball at Ole Miss. But his path to the NFL was anything but smooth.
He went undrafted in 2022, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent. From there, it was a winding road - brief stints with the Seahawks and Raiders followed, with just one game appearance to show for it before the Patriots came calling in October 2024, plucking him from the Raiders’ practice squad.
Since arriving in New England, Brown has carved out a role as a dependable presence on the offensive line. He started all 10 games he played in during the 2024 season, earning the trust of the coaching staff and a spot under new head coach Mike Vrabel. The Patriots retained him as an exclusive rights free agent, and Brown rewarded their faith by stepping up again this season, starting four games and showing enough promise to land a two-year, $5 million contract extension.
Now, he’s headed to the Super Bowl - just like his grandfather did all those years ago.
“It’s definitely something that I’ve always dreamed about doing,” Brown said. “Now that it’s actually happened, it’s still kind of hard to fathom that we’re going to the Super Bowl.
Just eternally grateful to be here with the Patriots, playing for coach Vrabel, playing with all these guys, all my teammates and everything. Just so excited to be here.”
For Ben Brown, this Super Bowl isn’t just a career highlight - it’s a full-circle moment. From undrafted longshot to key contributor on a championship-caliber team, he’s carrying on a family tradition that started with Lombardi’s Packers and now continues in Foxborough. The rings may be flashier now, but the meaning behind them remains the same.