He is the only player in Philadelphia's history who has a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and the only Eagle to return two kickoffs, a 90- and 93-yarder, for touchdowns in the same game.

"Nobody wanted to be on kickoffs, but I loved running kickoffs back. Eleven guys trying to get you. It was a challenge to me. I used to beg for that," laughed Brown. "It was an adrenaline rush, knowing that I've got to get by these 11 guys. That's the biggest challenge you can have in a game.

"There's just something special about a kickoff return. Everybody's up on their feet. Especially with me in Philadelphia, it was like every time I would receive a kickoff, they would stand up. They expected me to go all the way and I expected to go all the way, too."

Tim Brown on one of his returns

"I went back to school at Ball State. The president of the college kept calling me and telling me about teams calling and wanting to talk to me. I was not interested because I thought I'd proven myself enough and it wasn't a matter of talent," Brown said. "At that time, there were only three blacks allowed on a team, or something like that.

"That was the word in '59, and it started changing, of course, in the '60s. So I finally agreed to meet with the Eagles. I agreed to be on the taxi squad for that season and then make the team the next year.

"The last game in '59, they wanted me to play; but I hadn't had any contact all that time and I didn't want to take a chance on fumbling or something where they wouldn't invite me back. And, also, that last game, I wouldn't even be there. After the practices for that game, I would be going back to school. I had already enrolled and everything because I didn't know they were going to ask me to play in that last game."

Brown couldn't have chosen a better time to begin playing for the Eagles than in '60. After being blown out by the Browns in the season opener, Philadelphia won 10 of its next 11 games, winning the Eastern Division for the first time in 11 years.

The Eagles then came from behind to beat Brown's, albeit briefly, former team, Green Bay, in the NFL Championship Game.

Did he have a sense that the Eagles would enjoy that kind of success that season?

"No, and neither did they," Brown laughed. "There was a lot of luck involved in that season. Everything went our way. We had a good team, but I don't know what happened that year. It was just togetherness, because we weren't the best overall talent. We had some talented people, but for overall talent, nobody would have figured we would be in the championship that year. So it was a great year for the team."

Two seasons later, Brown began having some great years himself. In addition to bringing Philadelphia's fans to their feet with his kick-returning ability, he led the team in rushing four out of the next five seasons and earned three trips to the Pro Bowl.

He appreciated becoming the team's offensive go-to guy and the city, as well.

"The people were just great. Everywhere I went, they treated me like I was a hero," said Brown. "And, of course, I was raised in a children's home, so all the love I could get helped. Philadelphia was just such a great place to play.

"They were football people. Football's so big there. If you make it there in football, it's like the town just envelops you."

Brown retired from the game following the '67 season and remains at the top of the team's all-time list with 169 kickoff returns for 4,483 yards and five touchdowns. He's sixth on Philadelphia's all-time rushing list, and is a member of the Eagles' Honor Roll.

"That's a great feeling that you did well enough that you would be considered for that. They had a day for me. I just felt appreciated and that's all I think any athlete really wants at the end of it all -- that they appreciated me. They knew I gave them what I had."

Following his gridiron career, Brown became an actor, appearing in such films as M*A*S*H and Nashville. From there, he worked for over 12 years with the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

"First, I worked with the youth camps," Brown said. "It's ironic, but when I was young and in the children's home with 500 other kids, I always figured I wanted to work with kids because I think I knew what they needed and what encouragement they needed. Then I went working for the courts for my last four or five years. It was very rewarding."

Brown is now retired and living in Palm Springs, Calif., with his son, Sean, 17, a high school senior.

"He's got a rock band ("Here On Out"). He does all the singing and plays guitar. He writes songs and he's very good. That's his passion. They're getting feelers, but they have to get out of high school. Then things will open up because they can't tour and stuff now."