Looking To Beef Up D-Line, Broncos Sign John Browning

The Denver Broncos on Wednesday signed free-agent defensive lineman John Browning, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Browning (6-foot-5, 297 pounds) is a 12th-year player who spent his first 11 seasons with Kansas City. He was selected by the Chiefs in the third round (68th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft from West Virginia University.

In 121 career regular-season games (96 starts), Browning has totaled 307 tackles (252 solo), 27.5 sacks (158.5 yds.), one interception, 12 pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. The 33-year-old also has appeared in two postseason contests (1 start) and recorded five tackles (all solo) and one forced fumble in those games.

Browning, who was placed on injured reserve by Kansas City on Sept. 2 before the club reached an injury settlement with him on Sept. 30, has started at least 12 games in three of his last four years played. A 16-game performer during each of his last four years played, Browning also owns four seasons with at least four sacks for his career.

During his most recent regular-season action in 2005, Browning started 12 of 16 games played for the Chiefs. He registered 35 tackles (31 solo), two sacks (14 yds.), a career-high four pass breakups and one forced fumble that season.

A 16-game starter with Kansas City in 2002 and '03, Browning ranked second on the Chiefs with a personal-best seven sacks (46 yds.) in 2002 and led the club with 17 quarterback pressures in 2003. He also started 16 games with Kansas City in 2000, a year in which he posted a career-high 48 tackles (38 solo) while adding six sacks (32 yds.) and one interception.

Browning became a full-time starter in 1997, his second year in the NFL, when he opened 13 of his 14 games played for the Chiefs and recorded 33 tackles (29 solo) along with four sacks (17.5 yds.).

Browning played 24 games (12 starts) at West Virginia, totaling 78 tackles (42 solo) and eight sacks for his career. A SuperPrep first-team All-American at North Miami High School in Miami, Browning was born on Sept. 30, 1973.