Less Browne

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1959)}}

{{Infobox CFL player

|image=

|imagesize=

|alt=

|caption=

|number=00, 15, 17

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1959|12|7}}

|birth_place= East Liverpool, Ohio, U.S.

|death_date=

|death_place=

|College=Colorado State

|import=yes

|position1=Defensive back

|NFLDraftedYear=

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|career_highlights=

3× Grey Cup champion (1986, 1990, 1994)

|CFLAllStar={{CFL Year|1985}}, {{CFL Year|1986}}, {{CFL Year|1990}}, {{CFL Year|1991}}, {{CFL Year|1992}}, {{CFL Year|1994}}

|CFLEastAllStar={{CFL Year|1985}}, {{CFL Year|1986}}, {{CFL Year|1990}}, {{CFL Year|1991}}, {{CFL Year|1992}}

|CFLWestAllStar={{CFL Year|1994}}

|playing_years1={{USFL Year|1984}}

|playing_team1=Pittsburgh Maulers

|playing_years2={{CFL Year|1984}}–{{CFL Year|1988}}

|playing_team2=Hamilton Tiger-Cats

|playing_years3={{CFL Year|1989}}–{{CFL Year|1991}}

|playing_team3=Winnipeg Blue Bombers

|playing_years4={{CFL Year|1992}}

|playing_team4=Ottawa Rough Riders

|playing_years5={{CFL Year|1993}}–{{CFL Year|1994}}

|playing_team5=BC Lions

| CFHOF = less-browne

|CFHOFYear=2002

}}

Less Browne (born December 7, 1959) is an American former professional football defensive back who played in the United States Football League (USFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Ottawa Rough Riders and BC Lions of the CFL.

Professional career

Browne originally signed as a pro with the USFL's the Pittsburgh Maulers after being drafted in the 13th round (284th overall) by the expansion club in the 1984 Draft (January 4, 1984).

Browne signed a contract with the Maulers and started the season on their roster, however, was never activated for game action. He was released after the second week of the season by the Maulers on March 6, 1984 and later that spring signed with the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Browne holds the CFL and all-pro records for most interceptions in a career with 87. He also holds the record for most interception return yards with 1,508. Browne ranks third in the CFL for career blocked kicks with eight. Browne played in four Grey Cup games (1985, 1986, 1990, and 1994), winning the latter three. He was a six-time CFL All-Star, and was twice runner-up for the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award, in 1986 by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and in 1994 by the BC Lions.

Post-career

He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and in November, 2006 was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players (#23) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network The Sports Network/TSN.

He later became an assistant coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.