Keith Browner Sr., former NFL linebacker, dies at 63 in San Leandro

Former NFL linebacker Keith Browner Sr. died Tuesday morning at his home in San Leandro, California, his son, Keith Browner Jr., said. Browner was 63. The family described his death as sudden and unexpected; no official cause has been released, though family members said his collapse followed a night of stomach problems and fatigue and has been attributed by those close to him to a possible heart attack.

Browner Jr. said his father had been experiencing vomiting and exhaustion on Monday and planned to seek medical attention the following morning. While preparing to leave for the hospital, Browner Sr. suddenly curled over the side of a chair and collapsed. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the family. Authorities or medical examiners have not yet released a formal cause of death.

A standout at the University of Southern California, Browner starred on Trojan defenses in the early 1980s and served as a team captain in 1983. He was selected 30th overall in the 1984 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and went on to play five seasons in the league, with stints in Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego. After his NFL career he also spent time in arena football.