He played college football for the Morgan State Bears and was selected by the Giants in the 27th round of the 1953 NFL draft.

He was also included on the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team and The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

"[4] After graduating from high school, Brown attended Morgan State College, a historically black college in Baltimore, on a scholarship to play for the Morgan State Bears football team under head coach Edward P.

[5] He was selected as an All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association player in both 1951 and 1952,[6] and was a co-captain of the 1952 Morgan State team that compiled a 5–4 record.

[7][8] In December 1952, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Courier as a first-team offensive tackle on its 1952 All-America team.

"[9] In January 1953, the New York Giants selected Brown in the 27th round (321st overall pick) of the 1953 NFL draft.

"[13] As a rookie, Brown appeared in all 12 games for a Giants team that compiled a 3–9 record during the 1953 season.

In October 1953, sports writer Earl Wright wrote of Brown: "He is built like a museum statue – slender hips and broad shoulders.

He surprised the Giants by outrunning Arnie Weinmeister, New York's fleet defensive tackle, in windsprints.

"[14] Brown also gained attention as a rookie for his style, wearing "fancy street clothing" and regularly sporting a mustache, derby hat and umbrella.

It made me kind of angry when segregation ended and we had to stay with the white boys.

Sports writer Murray Olderman wrote: "The New York Giants have football's greatest ground threat, and Roosevelt Brown, an ultra-fast 245-pounder, is an integral part of it.

... A lady of certain artistic talent has tried numerous times to capture Rosey Brown on her sketch pad.

[1] While playing with the Giants, Brown and his wife Thelma were residents of Teaneck, New Jersey, where they were neighbors of New York Yankees catcher Elston Howard.

[2] In March 1966, Brown was hospitalized with phlebitis, calling into doubt his ability to continue his playing career.

[20] Brown participated in the Giants' summer camp, but on August 23, 1966, he announced his retirement as a player.

His honors include the following: In June 2004, Brown suffered a heart attack while gardening and died at his home in the Columbus section of Mansfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, at age 71.