Larry Brown ( running back ) Lawrence " Larry " Brown , Jr . ( born September 19 , 1947 ) is a former professional American football player in the National Football League ( NFL ) who played running back for the Washington Redskins from 1969 to 1976 . Raised in nearby Pittsburgh , he attended Schenley High School , Dodge City Community College , and Kansas State University , his original interest being in baseball . He later developed an overriding interest in football . Professional career . Brown ' s eight - year professional career was spent exclusively with the Washington Redskins . In 1969 , newly arrived Redskins coach Vince Lombardi noticed Brown , a talented but underperforming running back . He made the 5 ' 11 " , 204 pound rookie his starter . But Lombardi noticed Brown was starting slightly late behind the snap of the ball . Tests ordered by Lombardi determined that Brown was hearing - impaired in one ear , and that he was watching for the lineman to move rather than listening to the quarterback ' s snap count . Lombardi had Brown ' s helmet fitted with an ear - piece that relayed quarterback Sonny Jurgensen ' s snap counts , improving Brown ' s responsiveness , thus allowing him to hit the hole very quickly . He went to four consecutive Pro Bowl s during his first four seasons and led the Redskins to their 1973 Super Bowl VII appearance against the " perfect season " Miami Dolphins . Brown was the National Football League ' s Most Valuable Player in 1972 . He finished in the top five of the league for rushes five times , rushing yards three times , yards from scrimmage three times and total touchdowns twice . Brown was the first Redskins running back to gain more than 1 , 000 yards in a single season . He achieved that feat twice in a career that ran from 1969 to 1976 . In an eight - year career , Brown was selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 1969 , 1970 , 1971 , and 1972 . He has been voted one of the 70 Greatest Redskins of All Time . He was selected as the Washington , DC Touchdown Club Player of the Year in 1972 . Brown carried the ball 1 , 530 times in his career gaining 5 , 875 yards . His best seasons were in 1972 when he gained 1 , 216 yards and in 1970 when he gained 1 , 125 yards . He rushed for 100 yards or more 21 times and rushed for 100 yards or more in six games in 1970 and six games in 1972 . He also scored four rushing touchdowns in one game against the Eagles on December 16 , 1973 . . On October 29 , 1972 , he ran for 190 yards in a game against the New York Giants . Brown ' s career was cut short due to numerous injuries . Brown ' s jersey number , 43 , while not officially retired , has not been issued to any other Redskins player since his retirement . Post Football Career . Brown is currently a Vice President of NAI Michael Commercial Real Estate Services . After retiring from football in 1976 , he was employed at E . F . Hutton as a Personal Financial Management Advisor . For 12 years , Brown was employed by Xerox Corporation with responsibilities for business and community relations . He has served on the Board of Directors of Mellon Bank ( MD ) , the Board of Visitors of George Mason University , the Board of Associates of Galludet University the Board of Directors of the Greater Washington , DC Sports Authority , and a Delegate to Japan with the American Council of Young Political Leaders . Owner of Applebee ' s restaurant in Greentree , PA . Charitable Activities . Brown has been active over many years in charitable activities for the Redskins and other non - profit organizations in the Washington , DC area , including the Prince George ' s County Special Olympics the National Council on Disability , Friends of the National Zoo Advisory Committee , the Coalition for the Homeless , the Capital Children ' s Museum , and the Washington Redskins Charity Golf Classic . He makes regular appreances at Redskin ' s alumni events .