Gary Brown
Gary Leroy Brown was born on July 1, 1969, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Williamsport is where the GB33 Foundation is rooted, but Gary’s impact reached far beyond his hometown, touching teams, players, and communities across the country.
A Hometown Star
Gary’s love for football started when he was very young. At just eight years old, he had already decided he was going to play ball in the NFL. He stayed focused, dedicated, and driven until he reached that goal. Playing for Williamsport Area High School in the mid-1980s, he rushed for over 4,000 yards and scored 74 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most electrifying running backs the Millionaires program had ever seen. That talent carried him to Penn State, where he played running back and defensive back from 1987 to 1990. He led the team in rushing yards in 1988. One of his most memorable PSU moment was during the 1989 Holiday Bowl, when he stripped the football from Ty Detmer, returning the ball for a touchdown, and sealing the win over BYU.
For Gary, football was his ticket to a bigger, better life. That belief is part of why the foundation works to open doors for young athletes today, no matter where they're from.
Eight Seasons in the NFL
Drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 8th round of the 1991 NFL Draft, Gary went on to play eight seasons in the league for three teams: the Houston Oilers (1991 to 1995), San Diego Chargers (1997), and New York Giants (1998 to 1999). He surpassed 1,000 rushing yards twice in his career, with 1,002 yards for Houston in 1993 and 1,063 yards for New York in 1998, finishing with 4,300 career rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, and 3 receiving touchdowns across 99 games.
Eleven Years Shaping the Next Generation
When his playing days ended, Gary turned to coaching, and it was here that he found a second calling. He began at his alma mater, Williamsport Area High School, before moving into the college ranks at Lycoming College (2003 to 2005), Susquehanna University as offensive coordinator (2006 to 2007), and Rutgers University (2008).
In 2009, Gary returned to the NFL as running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns, then joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2013, where he spent seven seasons mentoring some of the league’s most talented running backs. He closed out his coaching career at the University of Wisconsin in 2021.
Gary became known around the league for his gift with people as much as his coaching technique. Players whose careers had stalled, guys other teams were ready to give up on, often found a turnaround under his guidance, going on to have career years once he took them under his wing. For Gary, coaching was as much about mentorship, developing a mutual trust between play and coach, and building self-confidence, as it was about talent and skill, wins and losses. The players he coached never forgot the difference he made.
In 2025, Gary was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame by the West Branch Valley Chapter
Honored for a career that spanned:
• 8 years as an NFL running back with the Houston Oilers, San Diego Chargers, and New York Giants (1991 to 1999)
• 11 years as an NFL running backs coach with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys (2009 to 2019)
• NCAA coaching stints at Lycoming, Susquehanna, Rutgers, and Wisconsin
• Penn State standout, 1987 to 1990
• Williamsport Area High School record setter, 1983 to 1986
Family Man
Beyond the stats and the highlight reels, Gary was a devoted husband to his wife, Kim, and a proud father to his three children, Malena, Dorianna, and Tre.
Gary, more often referred to as “Gar,” found the most joy in spending time with family and friends. He loved planning family vacations, watching his children play sports, and bringing his competitive spirit to any family game night.
Those closest to him remember his big heart, his even bigger smile, and
a personality that made everyone around him feel like family.
His Fight & His Legacy
Gary was first diagnosed with colon cancer (HNPCC) in 2011.
A subsequent diagnosis of kidney cancer (RCC) was found at the same time when genetic testing revealed he had Lynch Syndrome.
Both cancers were surgically removed because of early detection found through medical screenings.
Two years later, in 2013, Gary’s oldest daughter, Malena, was diagnosed with CML, a chronic form of leukemia, at age 14.
In 2020, Gary was again diagnosed with cancer when doctors found a tumor tucked between the head of the pancreas, bile ducts, and duodenum. This diagnosis required multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, including immunotherapy treatments.
Gary lost his battle with cancer in April of 2022, at the age of 52. Gary’s parents Dorreen and Gary Brown Sr. both passed away from cancer related complications in 2001 and 2003. His mother-in-law, Rose Marie Carducci Smith, also passed away from cancer in September of 2021…just seven months prior to Gary’s passing.
