Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Brophy played scholastically at John R. Buchtel High School, where he was a letterman in football and basketball.

[1] He played collegiately for the Miami Hurricanes,[2] As a senior, he was a member of their consensus national champion squad, and was honored by Football News as a first-team All-American.

For his career he collected two sacks, one interception (which he returned 41 yards), and one fumble recovery.

Mary in Akron in the early-2000s, where his star player was future NBA Hall-of-Famer LeBron James.

[7] As of 2022, he was head coach of the Manchester High School football team in New Franklin, Ohio.