| No. 34 | |||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | December 17, 1964 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 174 lb (79 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | James Madison Memorial (Madison, Wisconsin) | ||||||
| College: | North Dakota State | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1987 / Round: 12 / Pick: 334 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||
Tyrone Scott Braxton (born December 17, 1964) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) from 1987 to 1999, primarily for the Denver Broncos. Braxton played in four Super Bowls with the Broncos, and won two NFL championship rings in Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII. Braxton also played one season with the Miami Dolphins in 1994 and was a one time Pro Bowler in 1996, a season in which he led the NFL in interceptions with nine.
Braxton attended James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, Wisconsin. He played college football at North Dakota State University where he earned all-conference honors as a senior and was drafted by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1987 NFL Draft, the second to last pick overall.[1] He has a Master of Social Work from Metropolitan State University of Denver.
In 1990, Braxton had reconstructive knee surgery.[2] He was released after the 1993 season, after being blamed a "scapegoat" behind for a Broncos defense that struggled.[2] The team would finish last in total defense in 1994, the year he was away from the team. After a season as a backup safety with the Miami Dolphins, Braxton was re-signed by the Broncos prior to the 1995 season. In 1996, he was tied for the lead in interceptions with St. Louis Rams safety Keith Lyle with nine.[2] In Super Bowl XXXII, he recorded a key interception from Brett Favre that set up a Broncos touchdown.
Braxton finished his 13 NFL seasons with 36 interceptions, which he returned for 617 yards and four touchdowns. He also recorded three sacks and 10 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 106 yards.
His brother was convicted in a drug charge and served one year in a Wisconsin state prison back in the 1980s.[3] A second brother served a 25-year prison sentence for armed robbery, while more of his friends were either arrested or died because of drug related issues, which inspired a career for Braxton in the youth ministry.