Brandon Patrick Noble (born April 10, 1974) is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Penn State University.
Early years
Noble attended First Colonial High School, where he played as an offensive and defensive lineman. As a senior, he was named the Class AAA State Player of the Year.
College career
Noble accepted a football scholarship from Penn State University. He had to endure adversity early in his career, breaking his leg and missing the 1993 season. In the spring of 1994, he lost 40 pounds because of a bout with mononucleosis.
As a sophomore, he collected 22 tackles and 2 sacks during Penn State's undefeated 1994 season, and subsequent Rose Bowl victory over the University of Oregon. In his first full season starting as a junior, he posted 53 tackles and 4 sacks.
As a senior in 1996, he led the team with 8 sacks and had a career-high 72 tackles. He was named second-team All-Big Ten, and was awarded the Hall Foundation Athletic Award, given to the team's most outstanding senior player. He was also named the Nittany Lions' most outstanding senior player and the defensive Most Valuable Player of the Fiesta Bowl.
He earned a degree in Criminal Justice in 1998.
Professional career
San Francisco 49ers
Noble was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers after the 1997 NFL Draft. He was waived on August 19. On November 12, he was signed to the practice squad for a week and then cut again on November 18.
On January 13, 1998, he signed with the 49ers, who then allocated him to the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe. Noble returned to training camp and was released on August 25. On December 3, he was signed to the practice squad, this time for the final four weeks of the season before being waived.
Dallas Cowboys
In February 1999, Noble signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, and was again assigned to the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe. He had a strong showing, tallying 27 tackles (fourth on the tem), 5 sacks (fifth in the league) and one blocked extra point. He received All-NFL Europe honors and helping lead Barcelona to victory in World Bowl '97. The experience and the salary cap problems the team was having during that period of time, helped him make the team as backup defensive tackle, where he was second on the squad in tackles by non-starters (36), while making 3 sacks (tied for fourth on the team), 2 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback pressures, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery.
In 2000, Noble took over the starting role at left defensive tackle for the last 8 games, after a neck nerve irritation forced Chad Hennings to miss the rest of the season and eventually retire. He registered 69 tackles, 10 quarterback pressures,
He had his best season in 2001 after starting all 16 games and playing a key role in the Cowboy's significant improvement on defense, helping a mostly blue-collar cast finish fourth overall by allowing only 287.4 yards per game. Noble contributed with 56 tackles (ninth on the team), 4 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks (tied for second on the team), 6 quarterback pressures (fourth on the tem) and 3 passes defensed.
In 2002, he delivered another solid season playing next to Laroi Glover, finishing his Cowboy career with 57 tackles (tenth on the team), 4 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback pressures (fifth on the team) and 32 consecutive starts.
Washington Redskins
On March 1, 2003, he signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent. He suffered a season-ending left knee injury in the preseason and was placed on the injured reserve on August 18.
In 2004, he returned from his injury to play in all 16 games, starting seven. He recorded 38 tackles (19 solo) with one sack. He was also awarded the team's Ed Block Courage Award, given to the player who best persevered through injury. However, Noble injured his right knee in the 2005 preseason and was again placed on injured reserve on September 22.
During his rehabilitation, Noble developed a serious type of staph infection, MRSA, which nearly required amputation of his leg. After a long series of setbacks to his recovery, he was released by the Redskins on March 10, 2006, in a salary cap saving move and retired prior to the start of the season.
Coaching career
In 2006, Noble was hired as the linebackers coach at West Chester University. After a one-year hiatus from coaching, he returned as the Golden Rams' defensive line coach in 2010.