Early years
Brown was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended Charles Bursch Elementary School in Baldwin Park, California as a child where he grew up. He also attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California, where he was listed as the second-best defensive back in the country by Blue Chip and named to the Dream Team in 1995. He was named to ''USA Today''s second-team All-America squad in the same year. During Ralph's senior season, he was seventh in the state in rushing with 2,246 yards on 311 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in the Lancers' Division I championship win over Los Angeles' Loyola High School (Los Angeles), Loyola High in 1995. He earned CIF Southern Section Player of the Year and MVP, and the ''Los Angeles Times'' Back-of-the-Year honors, scoring 29 times, including a school-record 6 in one game. Defensively, he had 57 tackles and six interceptions. He also Letterman (sports), lettered three times in Track and field, track. As a sophomore and junior Brown notched all-state honors as a cornerback.College career
Brown attended the University of Nebraska, where he played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team from 1996 to 1999. He finished career with 143 Tackle (football move), tackles, including 88 solo and is third on the Cornhuskers career list with 11 interceptions and first with 253 interception return yards. Brown also set a school record with 50 Pass deflected, pass deflections. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-America, having been named to the first teams of Walter Camp Football Foundation, Walter Camp, ''College Football News'' and the ''Sporting News'' as a senior in 1999. He was also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in the country. In 1997 and 1998, he was an All-Big Twelve Conference first team selection. Brown was then an All-American third-team pick by the Associated Press and ''College Football News'' in 1998. He became a member of the Big Twelve Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 1997. One of six true freshmen who saw action for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football, Huskers in 1996, but the only one who earned a Starting lineup, starting role. Brown became the first position player at Nebraska to start his first game as a true freshman since World War II.College statistics
Notes - Statistics include bowl game performances.Professional career
He was NFL Draft, drafted in the fifth round (140th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played four seasons with the Giants from 2000–2003. In his first year Brown played in two games. He was inactive for the season opener vs. Arizona Cardinals, Arizona and saw his 1st NFL action at Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia, playing only on special teams. His only action was on special teams at Chicago Bears, Chicago. He was forced to leave game in the 3rd quarter after taking a knee to the abdomen. Brown's injury was diagnosed as a laceration to the kidney. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 2. Next year played in eight games, with no starts and finished season with two assisted tackles on defense and five special teams tackles (4 solo). 2002 was his best year so far, he played in all 16 games, including his first two NFL starts, at St. Louis Rams, St. Louis and at Washington Redskins, Washington. He was a reserve in NFL playoffs, 2002–03#NFC: San Francisco 49ers 39.2C New York Giants 38, NFC Wild Card game at San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco. He began the season as the dime (sixth) cornerback, but also played nickel corner. He finished with 25 tackles (19 solo), one interception, one fumble recovery, three passes defensed and eight special teams tackles (six solo). In his last season with the Giants, Brown contributed in the secondary as a reserve and spot starter and on special teams, providing depth to the defensive backfield. He demonstrated nose for the ball on several key plays last season. Brown played in 11 games, starting seven. He missed three games with a shoulder injury and was assigned to injured reserve prior to Week 16 at Dallas Cowboys, Dallas. He finished the season with 41 tackles (28 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions and one touchdown. Brown also played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2004 to 2005, the Cleveland Browns in 2006, and the Arizona Cardinals from 2007 through 2009.See also
* History of the New York Giants (1994–present)References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Ralph 1978 births Living people American football cornerbacks Arizona Cardinals players Cleveland Browns players Minnesota Vikings players Nebraska Cornhuskers football players New York Giants players All-American college football players People from the San Gabriel Valley Sportspeople from Los Angeles County, California People from Hacienda Heights, California Players of American football from California African-American players of American football 21st-century African-American sportspeople 20th-century African-American sportspeople