The Off the Field Player’s Wives Association has been part of the Super Bowl festivities for several years, hosting a fashion show benefiting a local charity in the host city. This year, Pro Player Insiders caught up with one of the founders of the Off the Field Player’s Wives Association, Ashley Quigless-Brown, wife of Carolina Panthers’ coach Ray Brown, to talk about the association, football, and a little fashion.The Off the Field Player’s Wives Association has been in existence for a long time. “We started to get this organization going in 1999, and we finally became incorporated in 2005,” Brown said. “This is our eleventh year of the fashion show. It’s a great pleasure and an honor to give back to the communities where the Super Bowl is held every year.” The fashion show was founded by Sherice Brown the wife of former NFL Tim Brown. Tim played 16 seasons with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders and his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This year’s beneficiaries included Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and JT’s HAND Neonatal Fund. The children’s hospital is part of St. Vincent’s Hospital and has been open since 2003. The hospital provides extensive 24-hour care for patients, with more than 50 pediatric specialists on hand. The hospital also prides itself on including parents every step of the way in their child’s care.
The JT’s HAND Neonatal Fund was founded by former Indianapolis Colts’ player Jon Hand and his wife Tanya in memory of their young son who was born premature. It helps ease the various costs of having a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit. Since 1998, it has given more than $687,000 to over 4,000 families in central Indiana. The fashion show is all about having fun while raising money. “It’s just a great event for wives to come together and showcase the fashions of a great store like Saks Fifth Avenue,” Brown said. “To be able to give something to the community where they know the NFL wives were here. We came into the community and did a great job.” As for a fashion tip to Quigess-Brown’s fellow female football fans, she recommends comfortable shoes. “Look the part, have a great outfit on, but wear the comfortable shoes. When your feet are hurting, it’s just not a good look.”
Brown’s husband Ray is the assistant offensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers. Originally an eighth-round draft choice out of Arkansas State by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986, Brown played in 265 games with 202 starts at guard and tackle for four different franchises – St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. Brown was a member of the Redskins’ Super Bowl XXVI championship team and earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors with the 49ers in 2001. Ray first started coaching in the second half of 2006 with the Washington Redskins. He has held the assistant offensive line coach position with the San Francisco 49ers in 2010, and the Buffalo Bills in 2008-09. With the Bills, he helped Jason Peters make the Pro Bowl in 2008. This season, the Panthers’ headlines were dominated by the explosive play of rookie quarterback Cam Newton. “He’s just such an awesome player to watch. He’s an exciting player,” Ashley Quigess-Brown said. “I think he got the fans back into the game in Carolina. We’re just looking for great things in the future from him.”
Off the Field Player’s Wives Association will be showcasing an amazing, ambitious, and charitable (active or retired) NFL Player’s wife on a monthly basis here on ProPlayerInsiders. Stay tuned.
Visit WWW.OTFPWA.COM to learn more about their philanthropic initiatives enhancing communities.
Interview conducted by Theresa Villano
