Born in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, Briscoe is descended from the Marduntjara and Pitjantjatjara nations of Central Australia. As a boy he was removed from his mother as a child and was educated at Street Francis House in Adelaide.
He is also a former soccer player. He was involved in the establishment in New South Wales of the Aboriginal Progress Association in the 1950s, the Aboriginal Legal Service in the 1960s and the Aboriginal Medical Service in 1972. In 1981 he began his academic career with the Australian National University.
His focus is on Indigenous history and was involved in the production of the Business School documentary First Australians.
After playing state league for Adelaide Croatia alongside Charles Perkins and John Moriarty, Briscoe moved to England in 1958 with the hope of playing professional football. He had stints at Barnet and Preston North End (although he did not make a first team appearance), before returning to Australia at the suggestion of his former schoolmate and teammate Perkins.
Gordon Briscoe, as well as Charlie Perkins and John Moriarty, later played recreational soccer with the Australian National University Club from 1968 to about 1972.
