5 things to know about Colts new TE Pharaoh Brown

As free agency rolls on, the Indianapolis Colts continue adding pieces to address critical areas of need. On Friday, the team added free-agent tight end, Pharaoh Brown.

Brown’s deal with the team won’t become official until April 9, pending a physical, but he joins a crowded tight end room with Mo Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods, Kylen Granson, and Andrew Ogletree, among others.

Here are five things to know about the Colts’ new tight end:

Like other Colts' tight ends, basketball is in his DNA

New Colts tight end Pharaoh Brown started his journey to the NFL in Ohio. Brown attended Brush High School in Lyndhurst, where he was a two-sport athlete.

Brown was a standout basketball player who transferred his on-the-court skills to the field. He was first-team all-conference and MVP as a junior, averaging 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Football changed his life

After high school, Brown spent time at the University of Oregon. He was a trusted weapon for Marcus Mariota and a large part of Mariota’s Heisman Trophy campaign and Oregon’s road to the national championship. An injury dramatically changed the way Brown approached football.

Brown suffered a terrible non-contact injury that would end his 2014 season. He fully recovered through sheer strength and tenacity, and when asked how he did it, he said, “I’m competing against myself and not against nobody else.”

He's familiar with the AFC South

Like new teammate Darrynton Evans, Brown has spent time in the AFC South. After spending time with the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns, he landed with the Houston Texans.

Through 31 games with the team, Brown had 44 receptions, 406 yards, and two touchdowns.

Community matters to Brown

During the 2021 season, the National Football League Players Association recognize Brown for his local efforts in the Houston community. He was named the Week 18 NFLPA Community MVP for hosting a holiday dinner at a local shelter that provides services for adults experiencing homelessness and abused and abandoned youth.

In addition to hosting the dinner, Brown donated $4,000 to the shelter and gift cards for its residents.

Blocking is where he has shined

While Brown may not be a fan of how blocking tight ends are paid, he does have that skill set. During his time with the Texans, he was often used for his ability to create extra lanes.

Story originally appeared on Colts Wire