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Willie Brown, Hall of Fame Defensive Back With Raiders, Is Dead at 78

Willie Brown, a Hall of Fame defensive back for the Oakland Raiders in the 1960s and ’70s who returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown in a rout over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI, has died. He was 78.

The Raiders confirmed the death but gave no other details.

Brown was a deft cornerback who joined the Raiders in a trade in 1967 just as the swashbuckling team was becoming one of the best franchises in pro football. He had 39 interceptions in 12 seasons with the Raiders, a team record that he holds with Lester Hayes.