Green Bay Packers: Who wore this number best? #93

With 93 days left until the start of the NFL season, our countdown to the big day, Sunday, Sept. 11, when the Green Bay Packers travel to Jacksonville to take on the upstart Jaguars, we continue our numbers countdown of the best players to have played in Green Bay … today it’s #93.

In addition, we highly recommend “Packers by the Numbers: Jersey Numbers and the Players Who Wore Them,” by John Maxymuk. The book, which chronicles every Packers jersey number was published in 2003 and provides a strong background of information about Packers players and their jersey numbers up to that point in time.

The first to wear the number, according to Maxymuk, was halfback Dom Moselle in 1951. He was acquired from Cleveland and was best as a kick returner, according to Maxymuk. 

Probably one of the best known #93s with Green Bay was Gilbert Brown. But another Brown – Robert – wore the number for 11 seasons, 1982-92. Robert was one of my favorites through the 1980s. He was an unheralded player who was solid as a rock, was never injured and was one of those lunch pail players who went to work, did his job, never opened his mouth and wasn’t flashy in anything he did.

Between 1982 and 1992, Brown played in every single game as a Packers interior lineman smacking helmets game in and game out.

During that time his statistics didn’t jump off the page, but they also didn’t show the kind of leadership he brought to the Packers teams of that era.

During that era, tackles nor assists were recorded, but he did have 13 fumble recoveries, two interceptions (one that he returned 37 yards and another he returned five yards for a pick-six in 1984) and 25.5 sacks. In addition, he recorded a safety in 1985.

But it was Gilbert “The Gravedigger” Brown who has been the best-known and loved #93.

Brown played his college ball at the University of Kansas.

Maxymuk writes:

"“In the Super Bowl year of 1996, Brown was at his peak. He was the best run-stuffer in the league and was called ‘The Gravedigger’ for his signature shoveling move to punctuate his tackles. With his brod chest and sloppy stomach filling out an XXX-large Green jersey and his shaded helmet visor, he was quite a sight on the field: a rumbling, jiggling, dominant warrior Buddha in pads … The local kids loved him because he was clearly still a big kid … Brown said at the time, ‘It comes down to being happy or just getting a paycheck. It’s fun to come to work here.’”"

Brown was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round (79th overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft, but was cut and nabbed by the Packers at that time.

It turned out to be one of Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren’s best and most underrated moves of all time.

Brown would go on to play 10 years in Green Bay, eating up blocks as equally well as he would down burgers.

Again, he was a player without striking statistics, but it was his character and the way he fit into those championship teams in the mid-1990s that endeared him to fans.

In all, he played in 125 games for the Packers, recovering one fumble, recording seven sacks, 40 tackles and 20 assists.

Gilbert Brown’s career statistics

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/9/2016.

Next: Who wore #95 and #94 the best?

Here is a list of all the players who have worn #93 for the Packers – it’s provided courtesy of Pro Football Reference – remember these guys?