Jerry Brown ( American football ) Jerome " Jerry " Brown , Jr . , ( October 20 , 1987 – December 8 , 2012 ) was an American football linebacker who played for five different teams combined with the NFL , AFL and CFL . In college , he played on the defensive line for the University of Illinois . In his professional career , he played for the Hamilton Tiger - Cats of the Canadian Football League and the San Antonio Talons of the Arena Football League . He was signed as a free agent by the Jacksonville Sharks in 2011 and was a contributor to the Sharks victory in ArenaBowl XXIV by having one tackle assist , a forced fumble and a fumble recovery . Early years . Brown played football at Vashon High School , helping his team win three St . Louis Public High League titles and three Missouri district championships . His best year came in 2005 , recording 97 tackles , 13 sacks and one interception . During his high school career he was a two - time Public High League Defensive MVP and a first - team All - Public High League Conference selection . As a senior he received PrepStar All - America honors , was named to the St . Louis Post - Dispatch first - team All - Metro squad and was a Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Class 5 first - team all - state choice . He was the 11th - ranked high school recruit in Missouri and 53rd - ranked defensive end in the nation according to Rivals . com . In 2006 Brown accepted a scholarship to the University of Illinois . He was redshirted as a freshman and by the end of the season he would go on to be named the team ' s defensive scout player of the year . He played in 13 games and had 2 . 5 sacks during Illinois ' run to the 2008 Rose Bowl . In 2008 he saw action in 11 games , recording 3 tackles ( 1 for loss ) against the University of Missouri . In 2009 he had an outstanding spring game making a game - high seven tackles and two sacks , but academic problems eventually forced him to leave school . During his college career he played mostly as backup defensive end , recording a total of 13 tackles ( 4 for loss ) , 2 . 5 sacks and two passes defensed . Professional career . Jacksonville Sharks ( AFL ) . After not being selected in the 2011 NFL Draft , he signed with the Jacksonville Sharks of the Arena Football League ( AFL ) on March 3 2011 , helping the team win the Arena Bowl XXIV . In the final , he posted one tackle , a forced fumble and a fumble recovery . In 13 regular season games he recorded 19 . 5 tackles , six sacks and three fumble recoveries . Hamilton Tiger - Cats ( CFL ) . At the end of the AFL season , he was signed to the Hamilton Tiger - Cats practice roster on September 27 , 2011 . San Antonio Talons ( AFL ) . Brown signed with the San Antonio Talons of the AFL on November 11 , 2011 . He played in 11 games recording 34 tackles ( 5 for loss ) , two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick . Indianapolis Colts . He worked out for the Houston Texans , New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles , before being signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts on May 23 , 2012 to play linebacker . He was one of the last cuts in preseason before making the team ' s practice squad . He appeared in one regular season game against the New York Jets , before being waived and signed once again to the practice squad . He was cut from the team on October 20 , 2012 . Dallas Cowboys . On October 24 , 2012 , the Dallas Cowboys signed him to their practice squad , where he was making progress by being named scout team player of the week and receiving consideration for a move to the active roster . On December 8 2012 , he was killed when the car driven by college and Cowboys teammate Josh Brent , flipped on the Texas State Highway 114 at 2 : 21 a . m . This tragedy occurred one day before playing against the Cincinnati Bengals , which was a game with playoff implications for both sides and that the Bengals where already heavily favored . Head coach Jason Garrett told the team of the incident and its tragic result on the plane , before flying to Cincinnati . That Saturday , the players held emotional meetings and hung the jerseys of Brent and Brown in their locker room . The game would become one of the most emotional in franchise history . The defense was already going to play without 5 starters ( Bruce Carter , Sean Lee , Barry Church , Kenyon Coleman and Jay Ratliff ) and they would also end up losing Brent , who was going to start in place of Ratliff . The Cowboys stunned the Bengals with an improbable 20 - 19 come from behind victory , that was decided in the closing seconds with a Dan Bailey 40 - yard field goal . After the final play , Garrett embraced with Jason Hatcher , who held Brown ' s jersey , which was originally placed on the bench during the game . Death . On December 8 , 2012 , at 2 : 21 am , fellow Cowboys and Illinois teammate Josh Brent drove a car at high speeds with Brown in it . The car hit an outside curb on Texas State Highway 114 , causing the vehicle to flip at least once and then come to rest in the middle of a service road . The car caught fire and was extinguished . Brown was unresponsive at the scene and later pronounced dead . Brent was charged with driving under the influence and intoxication manslaughter . Police stated that Brent attempted to pull Brown out of the car . In Brown ' s honor , the Cowboys wore a 53 decal on their uniforms , kept his locker intact and placed his jersey on their bench , during the remaining games of the season . For the memorial service , Stacey Jackson ( Brown ' s mother ) requested Brent to meet with the family at the airport , to also ride and sit with them while at the event . The team presented Jackson with the game ball of the 20 - 19 win over the Cincinnati Bengals , along with a hard - hat award , which was given to players who did their job regardless of circumstance .