2023
The San Francisco 49ers selected Brown in the third round (87th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft. [11] The 49ers orchestrated a trade with the Minnesota Vikings in order to secure their ability to draft him by trading their third- (102nd overall), fifth- (164th overall), and seventh-round (222nd overall) picks to the Vikings in return for their third-round (87th overall) pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Brown was the fourth safety selected in 2023.
On May 13, 2023, the 49ers signed Brown to a four-year, $5.39 million rookie contract that included a signing bonus of $924,224. [12]
Throughout training camp, Brown competed for the role as the starting free safety against veteran Tashaun Gipson under defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. [13] Head coach Kyle Shanahan named Brown the No. 2 free safety on the depth chart behind Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga. [14]
Brown made his professional regular season debut in the season-opening 30–7 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was limited to nine snaps on special teams. [15] During Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Talanoa Hufanga suffered a knee injury in the third quarter and Brown had to replace him. [16] Brown finished the 27–14 victory with four tackles, a season-high three pass deflections, and his first career interception on a pass attempt thrown by Baker Mayfield to wide receiver Chris Godwin to seal the victory for the 49ers. [17]
On November 21, 2023, Brown was officially named the starting strong safety for the remainder of the season after Hufanga was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. [18] During Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks, Brown earned his first career start and recorded four tackles in the 35–13 road victory. [19] Two weeks later against the Seahawks, he tied his season-high of six combined tackles (five solo), made one pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by Drew Lock to wide receiver D. K. Metcalf in the 28–16 victory. [20] During Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Brown had five tackles before leaving the eventual 33–19 loss in the third quarter with a knee injury. [21] He subsequently remained inactive for the last two games (Weeks 17–18) of the regular season due to his injury. [22]
Brown finished his rookie season with 35 combined tackles (22 solo), four pass deflections, and two interceptions in 15 games and five starts. [23] He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and received an overall grade of 73.4 from Pro Football Focus as a rookie in 2023. [24] [25] The 49ers finished atop the NFC West with a 13–4 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. [26] During the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions, Brown had 10 tackles in the 34–31 comeback victory as the 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LVIII. [27] In the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, he recorded 11 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception off of Patrick Mahomes during the 25–22 overtime loss. [28] [29]
