Jim Brown, NFL Hall of Famer and civil rights advocate, dead at 87
Jim Brown, a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and champion of civil rights, late Thursday. He was 87.
Multiple outlets, including the Associated Press, confirmed the news of Brown’s death. A spokesman for Brown’s family said he died at his home Thursday night, with his wife by his side.
He was one of the NFL’s first superstars and will always be known as one of the league’s most dominant players. And also consider the Cleveland Browns star quit the game in his prime. He played from 1957 through 1965. And he earned league MVP honors in his final season. He also led the Browns to an NFL title in 1964.
Jim Brown left football to act and work in civil rights movement
Jim Brown was that rare combination of speed and size. At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, he was as large as most of the defenders tasked with chasing him. And he loved to dish out punishing hits at the end of his runs. It’s part of why he led the NFL in rushing for eight of his nine seasons. He earned an invitation to the Pro Bowl in all nine of his seasons. In his career, he rushed for12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns. Those were league records when he retired.
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The Browns retired his number 32. Syracuse did the same with No. 44. Brown truly was a superstar athlete in college, playing football, basketball, track and lacrosse. In fact, he was an All-American as a running back and playing for Syracuse’s lacrosse team.
The Browns selected him with the sixth pick of the 1957 draft.
Once he retired, Jim Brown became an actor and an activist in the Civil Rights movement.
He appeared in more than 30 movies, including “Any Given Sunday.” And he kept his passion throughout life for empowering others. He founded Amer-I-Can, which was a program to help kids who grew up in poorer, inner-city neighborhoods. Ameri-I-can also helped convicts transition to life after prison.
The NFL posted a photo of Jim Brown wearing his golden Hall of Fame jacket to honor his memory.
“We are heartbroken by the passing of the legendary Jim Brown,” the league posted on Twitter. “One of the greatest players in NFL history, a true pioneer and activist. Jim Brown’s legacy will live on forever.