Members
Inductee
BROWNLOW, DARRICK
BROWNLOW, DARRICK
Born on December 28, 1968
Indianapolis, Indiana
Inducted On
June 20, 2024
Location Inducted
Indianapolis, Indiana
Region Number
7
Indianapolis Cathedral
Player
Indianapolis Cathedral
1987
While at Cathedral High School, Darrick’s team won a state championship. During that championship, he was a dominant All-State linebacker and two-way player. Darrick participated in the North/South All-Star game. Upon graduation, Darrick accepted a football scholarship to the University of Illinois where he became the first freshman in school history to be named a game captain.
Illinois
1991
As a sophomore, he was named the starter at middle linebacker, led the Big Ten Conference in tackles with 155 and became the leader of the Illini defense. As a junior, he posted 130 tackles (third in the conference), one interception, one sack and 4 passes defensed. As a senior, despite mid-season back and ankle injuries, he finished with 155 tackles (second in the conference), 2 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, one sack and one fumble recovery. He became only the fifth player in school history to receive All-Big Ten honors in three consecutive seasons. He was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year and placed second in the balloting for the Butkus Award. He also received the 1991 Hula Bowl defensive MVP award, after making 9 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. He finished second in the school's All-time tackle list with 459. He was named by the media to the Illini 1980s All-Decade Team. Three time All-Big Ten Linebacker, away from his playing days, Darrrick has served as the LB coach at Cathedral HS since 2005.
Darrick’s time in the N.F.L brought recognition to him as one of the best Special Teams players in the N.F.L
Darrick and his wife, Eleanor Finnell-Brownlow have two children, Bailey and Blake
Brownlow was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (132nd overall) of the 1991 NFL draft, after dropping because concerns with his size. As a rookie, he had an impact playing on special teams' units, which included blocking a punt that helped upset the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card play-off win.
On March 11, 1992, he signed with the Buffalo Bills as a plan B free agent. In September, he was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay buccaneers. He started the last four games of the 1992 season.
He played for the Bills, Bucs, LA Raiders, Cowboys, Redskins and Bears.