Max Brown’s father did not allow him to play football until fifth grade. Despite the fact that Brown’s father, Corey, played for the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers after graduating from Tulsa, he did not immediately urge his son toward football. Instead, the lifelong baseball player traveled to soccer games, cross-country meets, and even Taekwando events at a young age. Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, football became the next sport Brown pursued. He started as a running back, but a year later, as a sixth-grader, he received a call asking if he wanted to play quarterback.
Brown, now a redshirt sophomore for the Charlotte 49ers, is expected to be his new team’s starting quarterback when the season begins on August 31 against James Madison. He started last year at Florida and completed the majority of his passes in the Gators’ rivalry game against Florida State. “It was a testament of how important a quarterback is to a university,” Brown said during an interview at the Loews Arlington Hotel during Atlantic Athletic Conference media days. “That was huge for me to understand, especially after leaving and going to the transfer portal a few weeks later. “Coming into Charlotte gave me that perspective of what I need to have, see and continue to do going forward and be able to thrive as a quarterback.”
CHARLOTTE WANTED HIM RIGHT AWAY
After accepting the position as the 49ers’ tight ends coach, Tim Brewster’s first flight wasn’t to Charlotte. Instead, the Charlotte 49ers’ new associate head coach, who had been working with Deion Sanders as Colorado’s tight ends coach, headed to Gainesville, Florida. Brewster and head coach Biff Poggi prioritized the quarterback position, prompting Brewster’s trip. Having coached the Gators in 2020 and 2021, Brewster quickly identified Brown as a standout. Beyond his baseball background and impressive throws, Brewster noticed Brown’s dedication to learning the game.
“That’s what sets players apart,” Brewster told The Observer at AAC media days. “I’ve coached in the NFL and at a high level in college football. What separates players is their desire to truly be students of the game.”
BROWN IS STILL A BASEBALL GUY
Max Brown grew up among athletics. In addition to his father’s NFL career, Brown’s mother, Karmen, was a dancer at the University of Tulsa. Athletics immediately became the focus of his life, and it wasn’t just about one sport. He was simply having fun learning about different games and how his innate abilities translated to them, all while making friends and meeting new people. He played baseball throughout high school and was regarded as a great talent coming out of Lincoln Christian High in Oklahoma. At the age of four, the sport became one of his first interests, and he began to play it all year. He’s noticed how his baseball abilities have transferred to football throughout his life.
Playing shortstop helped him develop quick feet, agility, and the ability to throw from various angles. “For me, it was more of the baseball side,” Brown said. “I was watching players like Matt Kemp and Mike Trout. Baseball players were sort of my thing. Growing up playing soccer, I was a huge (Lionel) Messi fan. I didn’t really get into football until I started watching Russell Wilson, and now my Cowboys fans are watching Tony Romo and other players.”
‘BUILD SOMETHING NO ONE’S BUILT BEFORE’
Max Brown played six games for the Florida Gators last season. He made his first start against the Seminoles on November 25, 2023, replacing an injured Graham Mertz. Brown finished with 9-of-16 passing for 86 yards in a nine-point loss. He isn’t the only newcomer for Charlotte, which was projected to finish 13th out of 14 teams in the AAC. Not only did he detect a strong bond among returning players, but he also recognized how essential morale is as teams strive to win. “The biggest excitement is being able to do something that no one has done before,” Brown told the audience. “With the program being relatively new, especially for those new to winning, it requires more.
Throughout the summer, the lads have done everything necessary to demonstrate that they are prepared for what is ahead. “We had players on both sides of the ball who were previously here and are mentally the same as we are. We want to come in, win games, and create something no one has done before.”
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