TicketsBrigman "Brig" Owens was born in Linden, Texas but grew up in Fullerton, California. Born into poverty as one of thirteen children, he excelled athletically and, by high school, was a four-sport athlete in track, baseball, basketball, and football. But his heart was always on the gridiron. Playing in the shadow of UCLA meant he dreamed up suiting for the Bruins, but when it came time to choose a destination for college, UCLA wasn't willing to give him a chance at his natural position—quarterback.
Owens instead enrolled at local Fullerton Junior College in 1961, where he promptly led the Hornets to the Orange Bowl Show—the program's first-ever bowl game. In 1962 he earned All-American honors and landed himself on the radar of major football programs across the country.
But Owens still wanted to play quarterback, and few schools were willing to give him a chance under center––even after impressive seasons in Fullerton. But Cincinnati and head coach Chuck Studley guaranteed him a shot, which was good enough for Brig, who set off for Clifton in 1963.
Years later, Owens recalled a chance encounter with Oscar Robertson. When he first landed in Cincinnati that February, The Big O—then playing professionally with the Cincinnati Royals—was returning from a road trip with the team. The basketball star came up to the newest UC football player and welcomed him to Cincinnati, foreshadowing a nickname the soon-to-be QB king would hear throughout his college career: "The Brig O."
Owens walked into a quarterback battle in camp, though the media saw him as the early favorite, owed to his natural leadership ability, dual-threat talent, and top-end athleticism. "He runs the hundred in 10 seconds flat," claims the 1963 UC football media guide.
He won the starting job, becoming the first black quarterback in Cincinnati football history.
Owens' impact on the Bearcats was immediate and significant in three phases—passing, running, and kicking. Owens piloted a resurgent group, flipping a 2-8 record the previous season into a 6-4 campaign that was good enough for the program's first league title as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Cincinnati's offense exploded under Owens, reaching heights in rushing yards, total offense, and scoring that hadn't been seen in Cincinnati since the days of legendary head coach Sid Gillman a decade earlier. Owens' 1,530 yards of total offense—12th-most nationally—fell just shy of the school record set by Gene Rossi in 1952. His 556 rushing yards led the team and were the most ever by a Bearcats quarterback.
Just one year after leaving junior college, "Brilliant Brig" was an All-American Honorable Mention.
The bar was high for Owens and the Bearcats entering his senior season in 1964. He did not disappoint, mounting an 8-2 record, a perfect mark in league play, and a second-straight MVC title. Powered by Owens and senior halfback Al Nelson, Cincinnati's rushing attack ranked third nationally, and its offense finished 12th.
Owens, thrust onto pro football radars, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 7th round of the 1965 NFL Draft. The Cowboys and head coach Tom Landry initially told him he'd get a shot at quarterback, though they quickly moved him to defensive back, despite never playing on that side of the ball. "I'd never tackled anybody before," Owens recalled.
While trying to acclimate to a new position on the football field, Owens also struggled with his new environment, the segregated south:
"It was really kind of a shock. [As] California guys, we're not used to being told where you can't eat, where you can't live, and so forth … There was this sandwich place that guys were stopping by and getting sandwiches on their way to practice. I stopped by there, and the sign said, 'No negroes, dogs, or Mexicans.' I said. 'Holy cow.' I went back to practice and told the guys, 'Don't go to that place. If we all can't go, no one should go.' And I got called upstairs by [president and general manager] Tex Schramm … He said, 'Young man, you're not in California.' And I said, 'What are you talking about?' And he said, 'You can't be starting boycotts.'"
Owens claimed the situation led to him falling down the depth chart, then being forced to special teams, and eventually being traded to the Washington Redskins, something he said was "one of the best things that's ever happened to me."
Owens remained at defensive back in Washington, and his playing career over the following 12 seasons was a soaring success. He ranks first in franchise history in career interception yards and second in career interceptions. His impact on the field earned him a spot in the franchise's Ring of Fame. He's widely regarded as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
But Brig's impact extended far beyond the football field.
Owens broke down barriers. In Washington, he and tight end Jerry Smith roomed together during training camp and on road trips, becoming the first interracial roommates in league history. Smith, who retired from the NFL in 1978 before quietly coming out as gay to several family members, found a confidant in Owens, who later said Smith lived in fear during his playing days that his career would be ruined if anyone ever discovered he was gay.
When Smith was hospitalized in 1986 during a battle with AIDS that eventually took his life at 43 years old, Owens visited him "almost every day." Owens' daughters called him "Uncle Jerry."
Perhaps stemming from his short time in Dallas, Owens also became a strong proponent of collective action. He was selected to the National Football League Players Association's (NFLPA) executive committee in 1975, on which he served until his retirement. As soon as his playing days ended, he joined the NFLPA staff as the Assistant Executive Director and Associate Counsel.
After he left the NFLPA in 1983, he established "Super Leaders," a leadership program for at-risk youth in the Washington D.C. area. He also owned his own commercial real estate development company. He earned his law degree from Potomac Law School and an honorary doctorate from UC in 2008.
He was inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979.
Brig Owens died on June 21, 2022.
According to a UC staff member from the era, he was, put simply, "a fine football player and an even better person."
Owens instead enrolled at local Fullerton Junior College in 1961, where he promptly led the Hornets to the Orange Bowl Show—the program's first-ever bowl game. In 1962 he earned All-American honors and landed himself on the radar of major football programs across the country.
But Owens still wanted to play quarterback, and few schools were willing to give him a chance under center––even after impressive seasons in Fullerton. But Cincinnati and head coach Chuck Studley guaranteed him a shot, which was good enough for Brig, who set off for Clifton in 1963.
Years later, Owens recalled a chance encounter with Oscar Robertson. When he first landed in Cincinnati that February, The Big O—then playing professionally with the Cincinnati Royals—was returning from a road trip with the team. The basketball star came up to the newest UC football player and welcomed him to Cincinnati, foreshadowing a nickname the soon-to-be QB king would hear throughout his college career: "The Brig O."
Owens walked into a quarterback battle in camp, though the media saw him as the early favorite, owed to his natural leadership ability, dual-threat talent, and top-end athleticism. "He runs the hundred in 10 seconds flat," claims the 1963 UC football media guide.
He won the starting job, becoming the first black quarterback in Cincinnati football history.
Owens' impact on the Bearcats was immediate and significant in three phases—passing, running, and kicking. Owens piloted a resurgent group, flipping a 2-8 record the previous season into a 6-4 campaign that was good enough for the program's first league title as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Cincinnati's offense exploded under Owens, reaching heights in rushing yards, total offense, and scoring that hadn't been seen in Cincinnati since the days of legendary head coach Sid Gillman a decade earlier. Owens' 1,530 yards of total offense—12th-most nationally—fell just shy of the school record set by Gene Rossi in 1952. His 556 rushing yards led the team and were the most ever by a Bearcats quarterback.
Just one year after leaving junior college, "Brilliant Brig" was an All-American Honorable Mention.
The bar was high for Owens and the Bearcats entering his senior season in 1964. He did not disappoint, mounting an 8-2 record, a perfect mark in league play, and a second-straight MVC title. Powered by Owens and senior halfback Al Nelson, Cincinnati's rushing attack ranked third nationally, and its offense finished 12th.
Owens, thrust onto pro football radars, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 7th round of the 1965 NFL Draft. The Cowboys and head coach Tom Landry initially told him he'd get a shot at quarterback, though they quickly moved him to defensive back, despite never playing on that side of the ball. "I'd never tackled anybody before," Owens recalled.
While trying to acclimate to a new position on the football field, Owens also struggled with his new environment, the segregated south:
"It was really kind of a shock. [As] California guys, we're not used to being told where you can't eat, where you can't live, and so forth … There was this sandwich place that guys were stopping by and getting sandwiches on their way to practice. I stopped by there, and the sign said, 'No negroes, dogs, or Mexicans.' I said. 'Holy cow.' I went back to practice and told the guys, 'Don't go to that place. If we all can't go, no one should go.' And I got called upstairs by [president and general manager] Tex Schramm … He said, 'Young man, you're not in California.' And I said, 'What are you talking about?' And he said, 'You can't be starting boycotts.'"
Owens claimed the situation led to him falling down the depth chart, then being forced to special teams, and eventually being traded to the Washington Redskins, something he said was "one of the best things that's ever happened to me."
Owens remained at defensive back in Washington, and his playing career over the following 12 seasons was a soaring success. He ranks first in franchise history in career interception yards and second in career interceptions. His impact on the field earned him a spot in the franchise's Ring of Fame. He's widely regarded as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
But Brig's impact extended far beyond the football field.
Owens broke down barriers. In Washington, he and tight end Jerry Smith roomed together during training camp and on road trips, becoming the first interracial roommates in league history. Smith, who retired from the NFL in 1978 before quietly coming out as gay to several family members, found a confidant in Owens, who later said Smith lived in fear during his playing days that his career would be ruined if anyone ever discovered he was gay.
When Smith was hospitalized in 1986 during a battle with AIDS that eventually took his life at 43 years old, Owens visited him "almost every day." Owens' daughters called him "Uncle Jerry."
Perhaps stemming from his short time in Dallas, Owens also became a strong proponent of collective action. He was selected to the National Football League Players Association's (NFLPA) executive committee in 1975, on which he served until his retirement. As soon as his playing days ended, he joined the NFLPA staff as the Assistant Executive Director and Associate Counsel.
After he left the NFLPA in 1983, he established "Super Leaders," a leadership program for at-risk youth in the Washington D.C. area. He also owned his own commercial real estate development company. He earned his law degree from Potomac Law School and an honorary doctorate from UC in 2008.
He was inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979.
Brig Owens died on June 21, 2022.
According to a UC staff member from the era, he was, put simply, "a fine football player and an even better person."