NFL Films-Produced Documentary Profiles the Close Relationship Between the Two Defensive Stars
Former Teammates, Brett Favre, Troy Aikman & Family Members Reflect on the Lives of White & Brown
Premieres Thursday, September 29 at 10:00 PM ET on NFL Network
For five seasons, Reggie White and Jerome Brown were the anchors of a dominant Philadelphia Eagles defense. Despite opposite personalities off the field, the two played side-by-side and developed an enduring bond.
On Thursday, September 29 at 10:00 PM ET, NFL Network’s new documentary series continues with Reggie White & Jerome Brown: A Football Life, chronicling the close relationship between the late teammates, the countless lives they touched and the legacies they left behind.
The NFL Films-produced, 60-minute episode features interviews with former teammates, NFL players who faced them, prominent media personalities, and immediate family members. Additional footage includes White’s emotional speech at the Billy Graham Crusade at Veterans Stadium on the day of Brown’s death, scenes from Brown’s funeral, video and sound from inside the locker room, game highlights from both the NFL and college, and previous interviews with the two players.
“Reggie White and Jerome Brown are football’s version of the ‘Odd Couple,’” said NFL Films President Steve Sabol. “In White, you have the preaching defensive end; in Brown, you have the outspoken defensive tackle. In White, you have the guiding influence of a veteran; in Brown, you have the exuberance of youth. Yet when they lined up on the field side-by-side, the perfect chemistry between the two players was unmistakable, the result of which was a defense that was incredible.”
Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles (CBS’ The Good Wife), who narrated both parts of Bill Belichick: A Football Life, lends his voice to the episode.
From 1987-1991, the Eagles defense under head coach Buddy Ryan continuously harassed opposing quarterbacks, posting an NFL-best 261 sacks over that five-season span. Leading the defense were the defensive end White and defensive tackle Brown. A year after Brown’s tragic death in 1992, White signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers in a move that had a significant impact on the future of the league.
Through the words of those who knew them best, including teammates Mike Golic and Brett Favre, players who faced them in Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Phil Simms, White’s widow Sara White, and Brown’s sister Cynthia Brown-Jackson, viewers gain an intimate look into their football and personal lives, their unique character traits and how the two legends left an impact that stretched beyond the football field.
Please click on the following link to view the trailer:
The following is a partial list of people who were interviewed for Reggie White & Jerome Brown: A Football Life:
Cynthia Brown-Jackson – Sister of Jerome Brown
Sara White – Widow of Reggie White
Brett Favre – Former Green Bay Packers quarterback (1992-2007)
Troy Aikman – Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys (1989-2000)
Michael Irvin – Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys (1988-99)
Phil Simms – Former New York Giants quarterback (1979-93)
Jeff Fisher – Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator (1988-90)
Mike Golic – Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle (1987-92)
Tim Jinkens – Childhood friend of Jerome Brown
Norman Braman – Former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles
Below is a sampling of quotes from Reggie White & Jerome Brown: A Football Life:
“They made us all tougher because we knew we had to be pretty tough to beat them.” – Former Cowboys QB Troy Aikman on Reggie White & Jerome Brown
“The best player I’ve ever played with or against by far [was] Reggie White.” – Former Packers QB Brett Favre
“If you had 45 Jerome Browns, you would win every game.” – Former Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan
“There was a wild side to Jerome, and Reggie was constantly trying to get him to settle down.” – Former Eagles defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher
“Buddy Ryan let personality mix with talent and it became greatness.” – Former New York Giants QB Phil Simms
“He was just starting to grow up and it was good to hear. He was talking about investing money and buying a business because he pretty much on the first contract took care of the family, got his toys. Now it was time to think about his future.” – Tim Jinkens, Jerome’s friend from Brooksville, FL, on Brown’s passing
“He had a way of bringing the community together.” – Cynthia Brown-Jackson, Jerome’s sister, on Brown
“To get a free agent with the quality of Reggie White when other teams were just beating down the door to get him, to me it’s one of the all-time great steals in free agency.” – Favre on White signing with the Green Bay Packers in 1993
“One of the great statements that Reggie White said is, ‘If I’m only known when I pass away for being a football player, then I failed at life.” – Former Eagles TE Keith Jackson on teammate Reggie White
Airing exclusively this fall, NFL Network debuts A Football Life – a new biography series offering a look inside the untold stories of NFL icons. Each installment focuses on the life and career of provocative subjects intertwined in the fabric of NFL history. Part 1 of Bill Belichick: A Football Life, which premiered on September 15, became the most-watched documentary in the eight-year history of NFL Network. Forthcoming episodes include a profile of the incomparable Walter Payton and the storybook saga of Kurt Warner. For additional information on the series, blog posts from NFL Films producers, and much more, please visit: www.nfl.com/footballlife.
– NFL Media –
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