Charles Henry “Kippy” Brown, a longtime football coach who broke barriers as the first Black quarterback at what is now the University of Memphis and later helped the Seattle Seahawks win a Super Bowl, has died.
He was remembered this week in an obituary published by his family, who described him as a coach, mentor, husband, father and grandfather whose warmth extended far beyond the football field.
Brown’s football journey began at Sweetwater High School in Tennessee, where he first made a name for himself as a player.
He went on to Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis, where he became the school’s first Black quarterback at a time when such opportunities for Black athletes were rare. That accomplishment, his family said, opened doors for players who came after him and left a lasting mark on the program’s history.
A Coaching Career That Spanned Decades
Brown went on to build a coaching career that took him through the college ranks and into the NFL, where he worked alongside some of the sport’s most respected minds. Colleagues and former players knew him for his sharp understanding of the game, his attention to detail and his ability to connect with the people he coached.
His family said he saw football as more than wins and losses, using the sport to teach discipline, perseverance and character to the athletes under his guidance.
The high point of his professional coaching career came with the Seattle Seahawks, where he was part of the coaching staff during a Super Bowl championship run. Even so, those close to him said he considered that achievement secondary to what he built at home.
Family, Golf and Friendships Defined His Life Off the Field
Brown was married to his wife, Deon, for 52 years, a relationship his family described as the foundation of his life. He was also a devoted father to his children, Jerome and Jennifer, and grandfather to Jaxon, Jordan and Juliana, who called him Kippy.
He introduced his grandsons to golf when they were young and remained close to his family throughout his life.
Away from football, Brown was known for his love of golf, his storytelling and his ability to make people feel welcome, whether at a card table, on a golf course or at his own dinner table. Friends and former players often described him as someone who built lasting relationships wherever he went.
A celebration of life service is scheduled for September 18 at 9 a.m. at Sweetwater Memorial Park in Sweetwater, Tennessee, with family and friends gathering beforehand at 8:45 a.m. Rev. Sam Brown will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Sweetwater High School Athletic Department at 414 S. High St., Sweetwater, TN 37874.
Brown is survived by his wife, children, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, along with siblings, extended family, former players, coaching colleagues and many friends.
