Stephen Braggs

Stephen Lynn Braggs is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for seven seasons in the National Football League.

Early life

Braggs was born and raised in Houston, Texas and played scholastically at M. B. Smiley High School.

College career

He played collegiately for the Texas Longhorns, where he was a four year starter and, as a senior, he was honored by Gannett News Service as a third-team All-American. That year, as a team captain, he led the Longhorns with 6 interceptions including 3 in one game against Texas Tech, and in forced fumbles with 5. He was also named all-conference and the team's MVP that year.x
In his freshman year, he helped the team win the 1983 Southwest Conference Championship, and achieve the #2 ranking before losing the national championship in the Cotton Bowl against Georgia. The next year he helped the Longhorns reach the 1984 Freedom Bowl.
In his junior year he led the Longhorns in pass breakups with 15, helping them to reach the 1985 Bluebonnet Bowl.
He graduated with a degree in Business Management and Organizational Communication.

Professional career

Braggs was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth-round of the 1987 NFL draft and was a member of the "Dawg Pound" with the nickname of "Puppy Dawg". He spent five seasons with the Browns, helping them reach the 1989 AFC Conference Championship game, and then finished his career with two seasons in Miami. For his career he recorded 5 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, and 4.5 sacks.

Later life

While he was in the NFL, he was an owner operator of three Burger King Franchisee locations.
Braggs went into coaching, and was the defensive backs coach for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe in 2000 and 2001. In 2001, they won World Bowl IX. In 2015, he began coaching at Trinity Episcopal School of Austin.