Evan Brown
Evan Brown (born September 16, 1996) is an American professional football guard in the National Football League (NFL). After going undrafted out of Southern Methodist University, he carved out a long career as a versatile interior lineman, playing both center and guard. As of early 2026, he is a member of the Houston Texans, having previously spent time with the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals. Brown is listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 320 pounds, and through the 2025 season he had appeared in 85 career games with 68 starts.
Early Life and Background
Evan Brown was born on September 16, 1996, in Southlake, Texas. He grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, a region well known for producing high-level football talent at both the high school and college levels. From an early age, Brown was drawn to the trenches, developing the kind of size and technique that offensive line coaches look for in interior prospects.
He attended Southlake Carroll High School in Texas, one of the most competitive football programs in the state. Southlake Carroll has built a national reputation for feeding players into major college programs, and Brown continued that tradition by earning an opportunity at the next level. His development through the Dragons program gave him a strong foundation in run blocking and pass protection, two skills that would later define his professional profile.
Path to the NFL
After high school, Brown committed to Southern Methodist University, where he played for the SMU Mustangs from 2014 through 2017. He spent four seasons working within the Mustangs offensive line, learning to handle both guard and center responsibilities. SMU’s pro-style system helped prepare him for the speed and complexity of NFL schemes, even though he did not project as a high draft pick.
Following the 2017 college season, Brown declared for the 2018 NFL Draft but went undrafted. Rather than ending his career, that status pushed him to prove himself on a tryout basis, beginning a long journey across multiple practice squads and short stints before he eventually locked down a starting role at the professional level.
Evan Brown Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Brown signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He made the Giants’ 53-man roster as a rookie and spent his first season as an inactive reserve lineman, learning the weekly routine of a professional offense. The experience gave him a foothold in the league, even if his on-field role was limited.
On August 31, 2019, Brown was waived by the Giants and quickly signed to the team’s practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 9, 2019, but was waived two days later before being re-signed to the practice squad. On December 4, 2019, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins off the Giants practice squad and was released on March 18, 2020. Shortly after, on March 26, 2020, he signed with the Cleveland Browns, where he appeared in five games and logged 17 special teams snaps before being waived on November 5, 2020. He was re-signed to the Browns’ practice squad on November 7, 2020, and released again on November 10, 2020.
Detroit Lions Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Brown’s career turned a corner when he was signed to the Detroit Lions’ practice squad on December 4, 2020. He was elevated to the active roster for weeks 16 and 17 of the 2020 season, facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings, and signed a reserve or future contract on January 5, 2021. That offseason move set the stage for his most significant opportunity to date.
In 2021, Brown was named the Lions’ backup center behind Frank Ragnow. When Ragnow suffered a season-ending injury in Week 5, Brown stepped into the starting lineup and started 12 games at center. The performance showed that he could handle a full-time role in the middle of an NFL offensive line. On March 14, 2022, he re-signed with the Lions and started 12 games in 2022, playing largely at right guard after injuries to Halapoulivaati Vaitai. His ability to play both positions made him a valuable piece of Detroit’s depth chart.
Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals Era (2023–2025)
On April 3, 2023, Brown signed with the Seattle Seahawks. After training camp and the preseason, he won the starting center job over fifth-round draft pick Olusegun Oluwatimi, a clear sign that his veteran experience had earned the trust of the coaching staff. That starting role in Seattle cemented his reputation as a reliable interior lineman.
On March 20, 2024, Brown signed with the Arizona Cardinals and was named the Week 1 starting left guard. He started all 17 games that season, anchoring a young offensive line. On March 10, 2025, he re-signed with the Cardinals on a two-year, 11.5 million dollar contract. In 2025, he started all 11 games he appeared in, missing six games due to injury and personal reasons, before being released by Arizona on March 12, 2026, a move that saved the Cardinals 4.91 million dollars against the salary cap.
Houston Texans (2026–Present)
On March 14, 2026, Brown signed with the Houston Texans on a one-year, 3.5 million dollar contract. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for a starting role on another rebuilding offensive line. He is currently listed as an active guard on the Texans’ roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brown’s most significant milestone came in 2021, when he was suddenly thrust into the Detroit Lions’ starting center role after an injury to Frank Ragnow and held the job for 12 games. Winning the Seattle Seahawks’ starting center job in 2023 over a fifth-round rookie further established his value, and his 2024 campaign with the Arizona Cardinals, in which he started all 17 games at left guard, ranks among the most complete seasons of his career. Reaching 85 career games and 68 starts through the 2025 season marks the steady, journeyman arc of a player who refused to be defined by going undrafted.
Evan Brown Personal Life
Personal Life
Evan Brown was raised in Southlake, Texas, and has built his professional life around football since leaving SMU. Public details about his family, marital status, or children are not widely reported, and the available sources do not provide verified information on those topics. He continues to reside in the United States while pursuing his NFL career.
2025 Season Performance
Evan Brown entered the 2025 season as the Arizona Cardinals’ starting left guard after re-signing with the club on a two-year, 11.5 million dollar contract. He opened the year in the same role he had held throughout 2024, providing veteran stability on a line that relied heavily on his experience. His presence allowed younger linemen to develop alongside a proven starter.
Brown started all 11 games he appeared in during 2025, missing six games due to a combination of injury and personal reasons. Even with the missed time, his production when on the field remained consistent, and he continued to show positional flexibility by playing both guard and center when called upon. Through the 2025 season, he had played in 85 career NFL games with 68 starts, a testament to his durability over seven professional seasons.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, the Cardinals released Brown on March 12, 2026, creating 4.91 million dollars in salary cap space. Two days later, on March 14, 2026, he signed a one-year, 3.5 million dollar contract with the Houston Texans. The quick transition from one roster to another suggested that teams around the league still viewed him as a dependable interior option heading into 2026.
