He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft.

Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Brown attended its Hermitage High School and lettered in football, basketball, and track.

[2] 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 (2003), then played in all thirteen games in 2004 and caught his first collegiate pass against the Western Michigan Broncos which went for a touchdown.

[3] 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.

[10] 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.

[12] 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.

[16] 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 (Martinas Rankin) and a second-rounder in 2019 in exchange for Brown and a 2018 fifth round pick.

[28] On July 9, 2022, Brown was arrested for allegedly possessing a concealed weapon at Los Angeles International Airport and was released on $10,000 bond.