Bills project focuses on Lenox

LENOX — What started out as a quick visit home for his father’s birthday became a media event for a Buffalo Bills feature that can be viewed online this week.

A three-person crew from the Bills marketing team accompanied offensive tackle Spencer Brown to Lenox last weekend, filming him interacting with students at his former school, doing farm work for his father, Kurt Brown, and an evening meal at El Guero restaurant, owned by his cousin Wade Samo and wife Tia.

It was declared “Spencer Brown Day” in the school Friday, with students encouraged to wear any Buffalo Bills gear that they have. Many also made signs for Brown, held up for him as he walked the hallways in the district’s traditional “state walk.”

When students have special achievements, such as qualification for state competition in various events, they receive recognition in these walks through hallways lined with students offering “high five” handshakes and cheers.

“SPEN-CER BROWN! SPEN-CER BROWN!” the young students shouted as the 6-foot-8, 311-pound tackle quickly strolled through the school. At the end of his walk, Brown joined students outdoors for recess, where he was mobbed for autographs until it was time to go inside.

Brown doesn’t seek the limelight and stayed himself for the Bills media event as the cameras rolled. He wore a nondescript gray hooded sweatshirt, sweat pants and a Buffalo Sabres hockey team cap during his school visit. Filming began Friday morning with Brown’s lifting session in the school’s new weight training room. He later met with co-coach Michael Nardini and the Lenox football team in the weight room.

“The attention is not something that I look for at all,” Brown admitted after the school appearance. “It wasn’t part of my goals starting out, to have camera crews following me around. But I agreed to do it because I take pride in Lenox.”

The video project featuring Brown and his Southwest Iowa roots has been in the works for awhile, according to Chris Jenkins, the team’s vice president of marketing.

“Spencer signed a four-year contract extension in September,” Jenkins said. “We wanted to take the opportunity to tell his unique journey to the NFL and the Bills with our passionate fanbase. Spencer has become a fan favorite in his four seasons in Buffalo.”

Wednesday release

Jenkins said Brown will be featured in the team’s “Embedded” series set to premiere at 6 p.m. central time Wednesday on the Buffalo Bills YouTube channel and online at Buffalobills.com, as well as the Bills mobile app.

“We will also help tell Spencer’s story in future features that will air on Bills social and digital platforms leading into the start of the 2025 season,” Jenkins added.

Among those interviewed for the documentary about Brown’s roots was longtime Lenox coach Tom Christensen, an assistant to the late Allen Dukes when Brown was a tall, lanky tight end and defensive end in the class of 2016. Brown is still on the school’s record board for career, season and single-game quarterback sacks. He also exceeded 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in basketball, owning all of the school records for blocked shots as well as steals in a game (10).

“They asked me a lot of questions about Spencer,” Christensen said. “They wanted to know more about eight-man football and what positions he played in eight-man. I still remember that game with six sacks against East Union. He was coming off knee surgery going into his senior year and had just got cleared to play. He was really ready to play and they couldn’t stop him. He would have had a seventh sack but he was called for roughing the passer. I just said Spencer really blossomed as a senior and dominated. He became a man out there. Many teams just ran away from him.”

Brown signed with the University of Northern Iowa as a 210-pound tight end recruit but was transformed into an offensive tackle as he ultimately added 100 pounds to his 6-8 frame. He was a third-round selection of the Bills as the 93rd selection in the 2021 NFL draft.

Emotional message

As Brown spoke to the football team Friday, a poster showing photos of Brown as a high school player in Lenox, a UNI offensive tackle and as the Bills starting right tackle hung above the current players, serving as inspiration and pride. With no warning that he was going to be asked to speak to the team, Brown was momentarily overcome with emotion as he gave advice on never forgetting their roots.

“It’s corny, but I’ve opened up about this with other teammates that I’m close with,” Brown said. “Everybody has that thing, something that gets them up in the morning and gets them through the hard stuff. I’ve had surgeries (shoulder and back). There’s been some ups and downs. But I always think about my family, where I came from. People who helped me when I was younger. For that guy (pointing to him in his No. 8 Lenox jersey on the poster), it all started with manifestation, talking to yourself. People started pushing me. When coach (Clint) Powell came in when I was in high school, he got me more serious in the weight room. I started to play better in football, and I thought I’d just see where it takes me.”

Brown doesn’t let the aura of NFL life change his outlook and how he treats people from his past. He reminded the high school players to keep that a part of their futures.

“Sure, to go from one level to the next level you have to do things a bit differently, and it’s probably a little egotistical to think about getting there, but you can still be humble and a good person,” Brown said. “It just goes back to who you are and where you came from.”

Brown talked about his journey in the past decade. He went from hoping he could get a college scholarship, to hoping he could make the Bills team when was drafted, to being a mainstay in the offensive line for one of the NFL’s best teams.

“I went into UNI without having played 11-man football,” Brown said. “I just was the quiet guy listening and did everything they asked. My advice to you guys is to write down what you want to do. Put it on your bedroom wall. I’m starting my fifth year in the NFL with OTAs on Monday, and I still write down five goals. That’s what helps me.”

When he finally had a moment of solitude after the whirlwind visit in the school, Brown reflected on the warm reception he received from so many friends and family members.

“I walked the same hallways that we just went down,” Brown said. “It was cool to see the kids. Every time I come home I put myself in my own footsteps when I was young.”

Number retired

“Many years ago he was doing the same things as you guys, going to class, weightlifting, participating in sports,” Nardini told his players while introducing Brown. “And look what he accomplished through dedication and hard work. In the last three years we’ve made the state semifinals twice, and we always ask for people to contribute money to get a charter bus. Spencer is always one of the first to react to that. I’m very proud to have him here to speak to you guys for awhile.”

After Brown concluded his remarks, Nardini surprised the former Tiger standout.

“Spencer takes a lot of pride in Lenox football and where he comes from,” Nardini said. “On Sunday night football, and the starters introduce themselves in those little videos, Spencer says he’s from Lenox. That’s a lot of pride in the black and gold, and one thing we want to do is honor your legacy and things you’ve accomplished. We have one player currently wearing it, but when he’s done that number will be retired in Lenox football and nobody will wear No. 8 again.”

Brown was noticeably moved and humbled and wished the team continued success under Nardini and co-coach Cole Bonde. The camera crew then followed Brown to his father’s farm before an evening dinner in town.

Then it was back to work. Brown flew home to Buffalo Sunday and began organized team activities (OTAs) on Monday in preparation for season five in the NFL.