Linden’s own Brig Owens passes away

Brigman P. Owens, or Brig for short, may not be a name many remember in these parts. Owens was born in Linden in 1943, but grew up and went to school in California. He had a great athletic career which spanned 16 years from junior college to the pros.

Owens passed away on June 21, 2022, and the Washington Commanders, formerly the Redskins, released a statement concerning his passing.

It started out with “The Washington Commanders are deeply saddened by the passing of Brig Owens.” and ended with “he was not only a standout on the gridiron but also a well-respected and accomplished businessman. He was a man of great character, always there to help someone in need. Brig’s impact on this community will never be forgotten. We offer our heartfelt condolences to Brig’s family, friends, former teammates and fans during this difficult time.”

Looking back he played quarterback for Fullerton Union High School and after graduating he attended Fullerton Junior College.

Owens was named the starting QB at Fullerton JC and led the team to its first-ever bowl game in 1961.

Before the 1963 season Owens transferred to the University of Cincinnati where he led the Bearcats to a 10-1 record in his senior year.

Owens has been inducted into three Hall of Fames; the University of Cincinnati, Orange County and Fullerton College Athletics.

In 1965 Owens was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round and was converted to a safety.

The Cowboys traded Owens to the Washington Redskins in 1966 and by 1970 he was named the starting strong safety.

Owens is a part of the Redskins’ history as he scored two defensive touchdowns against the New York Giants in 1966. One was a 62-yard interception return and the other a 62-yard fumble return.

Washington won 72-41 which still stands as the highest scoring game in NFL history.

Owens holds the record for most interception return yards in Redskins’ history with 686 and is second all-time for the Redskins in career interceptions with 36. For this reason Owens was inducted into the Washington Commanders’ Ring of Fame and is a member of the 80 Greatest Players in Washington history.

Owens retired after the 1977 season and attended law school.

After graduating law school he worked for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), and owned his own business which helped represent professional athletes in commercial real estate.