Former Browns Offensive Tackle Orlando Brown Found Dead at 40

Orlando “Zeus” Brown, an offensive tackle involved in one of the most bizarre NFL moments in history, was found dead in his Baltimore condominium on Friday. The cause of death of the 6-foot-7, 360-pound lineman was not announced.

Brown had two stints with the Cleveland Browns, spending time with the team from 1993-1995 and again from 1999-2000. As many fans know, his most infamous moment came on December 19, 1999, when a penalty flag weighted with ball bearings – thrown by referee Jeff Triplette – hit him in the right eye, leaving him temporarily blind.

After being taken off the field, Brown rushed past the Browns’ medical personnel and back onto the field, pushing Triplette to the ground. The NFL suspended Brown for his actions, but the suspension was later lifted after Brown was unable to play due to the injury. He would end up suing the NFL for $200 million, settling the lawsuit for $25 million, and returning to the league in 2003 for a second stint with the Baltimore Ravens.

Current Browns right tackle Tony Pashos played with Brown in Baltimore for three seasons, and had this to say about his former teammate:

"“He was a really good teammate,” Pashos said. “I came in under him as a backup. Even when Zeus wasn’t on the team he came around and supported us. He loved us. He loved football. He could never walk away. Man, I can’t believe it.”"