It’s been a winding journey for former Oregon Ducks tight end Pharaoh Brown to get to where he is today; competing for a starting spot on the Houston Texans.
Five seasons, three teams, and a whopping nine(!) different head coaches created a rather whirlwind start to his professional career, but Brown understands he is in a position to put all that behind him and take advantage of a rare opportunity to contribute significantly for Houston.
“I’ve been in the league five years but I really only count two because I wasn’t playing,” Brown told Houston media members on Monday. “I was more playing politics my first two years and I was behind guys that was getting $10 million plus each year. So nothing I would do, I wasn’t getting an opportunity to play on the field initially because the Texans didn’t have a guy at my position that was getting that. I knew I would be able to get my fair shot and I bet on myself and I was right. I’m finally getting my opportunity.”
Brown is one of few players on the roster returning this season who played a big role on the team in 2020, and he has familiarity with Houston’s new quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, who he played with in Cleveland during the 2018 season.
“Me and Tyrod was in Cleveland together for a whole year, so as soon as he signed here, I was happy,” Brown continued. “Called him and talked to him. He actually was my practice squad quarterback the whole year so I’m used to Tyrod. It’s like a stroll in the park for me with Tyrod.”
Brown went undrafted in 2017 and spent time on the practice squads for both the Raiders and Browns before signing with Houston in 2020.
He quickly adjusted to the offense and ended up making nine starts and hauling in 14 receptions for 163 yards and the first two touchdowns of his NFL career.
Now, even after a nasty bout of COVID-19 and a bad reaction to the vaccine, Brown is back and ready to solidify his place as Houston’s go-to tight end option in 2021.
“I’ve been prepared each year like I knew I was a starter, I believed I was a starter and I believed I could play in this league and it was just a matter of opportunity,” Brown said. “Just preparation — opportunity is finally meeting preparation and that’s why I’m confident and that’s why when I got out there last year, you know what I mean, it was just like, stepping into it.”
Brown starred at Oregon from 2012-2016, battling injuries to haul in 70 total receptions for 1,011 yards and 13 touchdowns, becoming one of the best tight ends in school history.
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