Thomas Edward "Ted" Brown (born February 15, 1957) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons during the late 1970s and 1980s. Brown played college football for North Carolina State University, where he was recognized as an All-American. He was a first-round pick in the 1979 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. Brown's son, J. T. is a former National Hockey League player. Early years Brown was born in High Point, North Carolina. He attended T. Wingate Andrews High School. College career By the time Brown graduated from North Carolina State University in 1978, he had set the Atlantic Coast Conference career rushing record with 4,602 yards and the single game rushing record with 251 yards against Penn State in 1977. He was an All-ACC pick for all four years in college and a consensus All-American in 1978. College statistics * Includes bowl games. In 2013, Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Professional career The Minnesota Vikings chose Brown in the first round (sixteenth pick overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft, and he played for the Vikings from to . In December 1981, Brown accidentally shot himself while handling a loaded revolver. The injury required surgery to remove bullet and wood fragments from his upper thigh. There was a question of whether he would be able continue his career in football. Brown was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. Post-retirement After retiring from football, Brown became a juvenile probation officer in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His son, J. T., played with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League. References 1957 births Living people All-American college football players American football running backs College Football Hall of Fame inductees Minnesota Vikings players NC State Wolfpack football players Players of American football from North Carolina Sportspeople from High Point, North Carolina People who entered an Alford plea