Orlando Brown
CINCINNATI BENGALS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive Tackle | Oklahoma | 6 |
EXCELLENCE ON THE FIELD
Orlando Brown Jr., a four-time Pro Bowler, has established himself as one of the league's top offensive tackles in his seven NFL seasons. Originally a third-round draft pick by Baltimore in 2018, he played his first three seasons with the Ravens and the following two (2021-22) with Kansas City, before joining the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent in 2023. He earned Pro Bowl selections in four straight seasons from 2019-22, and during that time he was a key piece of offensive lines that protected Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (2019) and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (2022) during their MVP campaigns. He lined up for each of the Chiefs' 194 offensive snaps during their 2022 postseason run, culminating in a Super Bowl LVII victory. This season, among all offensive tackles with at least 100 snaps, Brown ranks tied for eighth in pass-block efficiency (98.1) and 12th in pass-block grade (82.5), per Pro Football Focus. His eight total pressures allowed are tied for the 14th-fewest leaguewide through Week 9. Brown made his first 32 career starts at right tackle, then switched midway through the 2020 season to left tackle, where he has started his last 68 games played.
POSITIVE CHARACTER & A LIFESTYLE OF GIVING BACK
Orlando Brown Jr., who was voted a team captain this season for the first time in his career, has been publicly regarded as a high character teammate at all three organizations he has played for. Off the field, he has made an emphasis to do good for others, no matter where he is or the time of year. When he trains in Miami during the offseason, he can be found dropping off donations and greeting children at a local Boys & Girls Club. As a native of the Baltimore area, Brown made an effort early in his Ravens career to give back to the community he called home, including a visit to his elementary school to speak and read to students. He also partnered with ShopRite for an initiative called "Help Bag Hunger Day," where he bagged groceries at a local supermarket to help raise awareness about the issue of food insecurity. While he played for the Chiefs, Brown reserved limousines to take high school students bowling. As Brown continues to advocate for Type 1 diabetes research, he displays that commitment through his time as much as his resources. He has taken numerous trips to Children's Mercy Kansas City, where he has visited patients, families, and doctors. He also recently visited the diabetes and endocrinology clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, creating a relationship he hopes to expand in the future.
DEDICATION & COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY EFFORTS
THIS YEAR
Orlando Brown Jr., a longtime advocate for Type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and education, saw an opportunity to make an impact in the greater Cincinnati community when he signed with the Bengals as a free agent in 2023. He quickly became involved with the local chapter of Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), the leading global type 1 diabetes research organization. Last summer, he attended Breakthrough T1D's Children's Congress, a three-day event in Washington D.C. where he met with children living with T1D and government officials. He lobbied for the renewal of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP), an integral component of the federal government's diabetes research funding. The SDP was set to expire in September of 2023, and assisted by Brown's efforts in speaking with congressmen and senators, the program was renewed through December of 2024 and saw its first funding increase in 20 years. Last September, Brown was officially appointed as an ambassador to the Breakthrough T1D organization at a community event hosted at the Bengals' Paycor Stadium. The event welcomed children affected by T1D as well as Bengals fans and media. In addition to sharing his family's journey with T1D, Brown auctioned off items and memorabilia to benefit the charity. In Week 14 of the 2023 season, he wore JDRF-themed cleats for the Bengals' "My Cause, My Cleats" game, adding to the growing legacy of NFL players championing Breakthrough T1D's mission. Last December, Brown assisted chefs at a local sushi restaurant, Baru, to create "The Orlando" roll. With children who are battling T1D on hand to serve as taste-testers, a portion of the proceeds were donated to Breakthrough T1D's research. He also invited several local organizations to a Target in northern Kentucky, and distributed gift cards while helping kids with their holiday shopping. This past summer, Brown partnered with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati for their Juneteenth Jubilee. He spoke at the event, raising awareness for T1D and discussing the lack of resources that Black and brown communities have for insulin and other diabetes treatment. Brown also invited Breakthrough T1D and worked with Kroger at the event, passing out information to help educate people on sugar testing, early detection, and the discrepancy in health equity that affects different communities. In Week 3 of this season, Brown hosted a group of children living with T1D at a Bengals practice, then purchased 25 tickets for them and their parents to attend the team's game against the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football.
IN YEARS PAST
Orlando Brown Jr.'s unwavering commitment to Type 1 diabetes advocacy and research began long before he stepped foot on an NFL field. His grandmother was diagnosed with T1D, and his father, former NFL player Orlando Brown Sr., passed away from diabetic ketoacidosis in 2011 when Orlando Jr. was 15 years old. After his younger brother's T1D diagnosis at age 8, Brown resolved to dedicate his time outside of the game of football to advocate for education, technology, and therapies that combat a condition which affects nearly two million Americans. In 2022, when Brown was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, he teamed up with TrialNet, an international network of researchers who explore ways to prevent and delay the progression of T1D. That June, he was screened for T1D at Children's Mercy Kansas City in front of cameras and reporters. He elected to do it publicly to help inspire other relatives of people with T1D to get screened, and the day the story was published, daily registration for screening doubled. Brown was initiated into the T1D Heroes Academy, joining hundreds of thousands of others who have been screened by TrialNet to learn their personal risk and to help advance research. Later that year, Brown matched a $50,000 donation from the Emilie Rosebud Diabetes Research Foundation to fund the cost of a diabetes research project at Children's Mercy. He was named the Week 11 NFLPA Community MVP in recognition of that effort. He also represented Children's Mercy in the Chiefs' "My Cause, My Cleats" game. This past April, Brown appeared on Good Morning America, where he shared his family's T1D story and, along with GMA's medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, discussed symptoms to look out for in loved ones. His willingness to speak publicly on the issue stems from a lack of dialogue and education related to T1D. As a black man and prominent athlete, Brown embraces his platform, making him a key figure in shedding stigmas surrounding T1D, building trust in healthcare and creating discussions among people in underserved communities.