After graduation from high school, Brown attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, where he played for Frank Beamer's Hokies. He redshirted as a true freshman, then played in all thirteen games in 2004 and caught his first collegiate pass against the Western Michigan Broncos which went for a touchdown. In 2005, he moved from tight end to offensive tackle, where he started every game and played in 673 offensive snaps during the regular season. As a junior in 2006, Brown earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition and was voted state Offensive Lineman/End of the Year by the Richmond Touchdown Club. During his senior season in 2007, Brown switched to left offensive tackle and earned second-team All-ACC honors and Offensive Lineman/End of the Year by the Richmond Touchdown Club for the second consecutive year.
Professional career
Houston Texans
Brown was selected by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2008NFL Draft. He was only the second Virginia Tech offensive lineman ever drafted in the first round of an NFL Draft, after Eugene Chung in 1992. Brown started all sixteen games as a rookie in 2008 and became the first Texans rookie lineman to start every game since Chester Pitts in 2002. In 2009, Brown protected the blind side of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub who led the NFL with 4,770 passing yards and helped the offense set franchise records with 6,129 total yards and 388 points. During the 2010 season, Brown started twelve games, allowing 6.5 sacks and zero holding penalties. In 2011, Brown was listed on the USA Today All-Joe Team and was named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press, not allowing a single sack or committing a holding penalty. On August 16, 2012, Brown and the Texans agreed on a six-year, $53.4 million extension, with $22.08 million guaranteed. Brown was in the final year of his rookie contract; the extension kicked in at the conclusion of the 2012 season. Brown was named onto the 2012 All-Pro Team as a first-team selection and was voted to play in the 2013 Pro Bowl at the end of the 2012 season. On January 3, 2016, Brown tore his quadriceps tendon during the first quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This injury required surgery and he was able to return for the 2016 season. Brown suffered a knee injury during the 2016 offseason and missed the first four games of 2016 before returning in Week 5 and started the final 12 games. Brown did not attend the Texans' mandatory minicamp as part of a push for a new contract, even though he had two years left on the deal. On July 25, 2017, the Texans placed Brown on the reserve/did not report list after not showing up for the start of training camp. On October 23, Brown returned to the team after missing the first six games.
Seattle Seahawks
On October 30, 2017, Brown was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for cornerback Jeremy Lane and two draft picks. However the following day it was reported Lane had failed his physical and would no longer be part of the trade; instead the Seahawks would send a third-rounder in 2018 and second-rounder in 2019 in exchange for Brown and a 2018 fifth round pick. On January 23, 2018, Brown was named to the 2018 Pro Bowl, replacing Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson. On July 28, 2018, Brown signed a three-year, $36.5 million contract extension with the Seahawks, keeping him under contract through the 2021 season. Brown was named Second-team All-Pro for the 2018 season after helping revamp Seattle’s offensive line and making them the number one rushing attack in the league. Brown was named a Pro Bowl alternate on January 17, 2020.
Personal life
On November 22, 2011, Brown proposed to Devon Anjelica, a morning show host on Sirius XM's Shade 45. He has a daughter and two sons.
