Football legend Jim Brown passes away at the age of 87.
One of the all-time greats in college and professional football, Jim Brown, passed away. He was eighty-seven
Monique, his spouse, shared the news of Brown’s passing on Instagram on Friday afternoon. In their Los Angeles home on Thursday night, she said, Brown “died quietly.”
The post said, “To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star.” He was a devoted and amazing father, grandfather, and husband to our family. Our hearts are shattered.
In honour of the anniversaries of both sports in 2020, Brown was named to the NFL 100 all-time team and ranked as the top all-time player on the College Football 150 list. In 2002, Sporting News named him the greatest football player of all time.
Selected in the first round of the 1957 draft, Brown spent nine seasons (1957–1965) as the Cleveland Browns’ running back, finishing first in the league eight of those seasons. Over his career, he carried for 12,312 yards at an average of 5.2 yards per carry. Every season he participated, he was also named a Pro Bowler. He was awarded MVP three times and led the Browns to three league championship games, including the 1964 championship.
He never missed a game and finished 58 of his 118 regular-season games with at least 100 yards of running. Including 1,527 yards in a 12-game season and 1,863 yards in a 14-game season, he amassed over 1,000 yards in rushes in seven different seasons.
Brown contributed to the Black community’s empowerment during the Civil Rights Movement as well. To support boxer Muhammad Ali’s refusal to serve in Vietnam, Brown arranged “The Cleveland Summit” in June 1967, bringing together the best Black athletes in the country, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who would go on to become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Later in life, Brown fought to reduce gang violence in Los Angeles and established Amer-I-Can, a programme to assist formerly incarcerated people and underprivileged inner-city adolescents, in 1988.
Additionally, Brown pushed for greater Black community involvement by contemporary players.
A “talented athlete,” Brown “became a pioneer and role model for athletes being involved in humanitarian activities outside of their sports,” according to a statement released by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
The Browns released a statement in which they said, “Words cannot express the deep love and appreciation we feel for having the chance to be a little part of Jim’s amazing life and legacy.” “We celebrate the enduring brightness he provided to the world, even as we grieve his loss.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim’s loved ones, family, and everyone he touched throughout his journey.”
What They Are Expressing…
LeBron James: “Today we lost a hero.” Jim Brown, the legend, rest in paradise. I sincerely hope that all Black athletes take the time to learn about this amazing man and the things he accomplished to transform our collective lives. Everybody is standing on your shoulders. Jim Brown. For Black people growing up in Northeast Ohio, Jim Brown was a hero. I truly just thought of him as the best Cleveland Brown to ever play when I was a youngster and loved football. Subsequently, I commenced my own athletic path and came to the realisation that his social accomplishments truly embodied his brilliance. Every time I decide to speak up, Jim Brown comes to mind. Only because Jim tore down those barriers for me can I communicate.”
Barack Obama: “Jimmy Brown’s playing days are too far from my memory, but I was aware of his legacy.” In addition to being one of the all-time greats in football, he was an activist and actor who advocated for civil rights and encouraged other Black athletes to follow suit. Our hearts go out to Jim’s children, wife Monique, and all of those who knew and loved him.”
Emmitt Smith: “After learning of Jim Brown’s passing, my heart hurts right now. In athletics and the community, he has been and still is a great legend who uses his position to assist others. Many thanks, King.”
Barry Sanders: “Jim Brown’s influence on the NFL cannot be understated. We shall miss him terribly. We will always cherish the gift of his generosity and friendship with my family. At this time, our hearts and prayers are with the Brown Family and Browns supporters.”
Tony Dorsett: “Every player who ever played NFL running back couldn’t help but see Jim Brown as a legendary figure both on and off the pitch. My brother, go to sleep with ease.”
Brown ended his career at the age of thirty. In 1966, he was filming “The Dirty Dozen” during the off-season; however, due to inclement weather, the production took longer than expected. If Brown didn’t show up on time for training camp, Browns owner Art Modell threatened to withhold his salary. Brown made the decision to quit, citing his desire to concentrate on social concerns and his film career.
No Browns player has worn his No. 32 since he retired, and in 2016 a statue honouring him was erected outside FirstEnergy Stadium.
When the statue was presented, Brown remarked, “I feel it throughout my body, particularly in my heart and head. It’s a great moment.”
Jimmy and Dee Haslam, the current owners of the Browns, referred to Brown as “a great icon” in the NFL.
According to a statement made public on Friday, “He was unquestionably the greatest to ever don a Browns uniform and possibly one of the greatest players in NFL history.” “One of the main reasons the Browns have such a large following now is Jim. The innumerable honours he has received on the football pitch only begin to tell part of the narrative of the guy who so many watched growing up.
During his college career at Syracuse, Brown lettered in four different sports: football, lacrosse, basketball, and track. He is regarded as one of the all-time great lacrosse players, having once scored five goals in the first half of a collegiate all-star game.
In one 1956 game against Colgate, Brown also started at place-kicker for Syracuse, setting an NCAA single-game record with 43 points from six touchdowns and seven extra points. He set a national record for rushing touchdowns in that same season. He had the highest kickoff return average in the country in 1955. He totaled 2,091 yards of rushes with the Orange, scoring 26 touchdowns.
According to a statement from Jim Porter, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, “when Jim Brown’s name was announced in a room, other Hall of Famers stood and cheered him.” “His image as a fearless, dominant football player has endured over time. Jim will always be regarded as one of the best people in pro football.”
Brown was a part in multiple off-field events, particularly in the days immediately following his retirement.
He was taken into custody six times, primarily for beating women. He once beat up his golfing buddy and was fined and jailed for a day. In 1985, he was accused of rape, sexual battery, and assault; however, those accusations were eventually withdrawn. He was detained the next year on suspicion of abusing his fiancée. While he was found guilty of breaking the window of his wife’s car and serving time in jail for his refusal to attend domestic violence counselling, Brown was cleared of making threats against her in 1999.
