Legendary NFL Player, Actor, and Activist Jim Brown Has Died at 87

Introduction

On Friday, May 19th, 2023 the Cleveland Browns It was officially announced that the renowned fullback, celebrated actor, and passionate civil rights advocate, Jim Brown , has sadly passed away at the age of 87.

Monique , Jim's wife, shared the news of his passing through an Instagram post on Friday afternoon, May 19, 2023. She expressed that Jim Brown had "passed away peacefully,\" during the night of May 18, 2023, at their residence in Los Angeles, California. "To the world, he was a football legend, actor, and activist. To us, he was a caring husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are shattered.\"

Ranking Jim Brown Among History's Greatest Football Players

In 2020, Jim was honored with a spot on the esteemed NFL 100 All-Time Team and was named the top player in the celebrated College Football 150 list designed to commemorate pivotal moments in sports history. Notably, in 2002, Sporting News declared him the greatest football player of all time.

Football Background

Drafted in the first round of the 1957 NFL Draft, Jim Brown played for the Cleveland Browns for nine seasons from 1957 to 1965, dominating the league by leading in rushing yards for eight of those nine years. Throughout his prolific career, he amassed an impressive total of 12,312 rushing yards, averaging 5.2 yards every carry. NFL draft Brown consistently received Pro Bowl honors every year of his professional career. He played a pivotal role in leading the Cleveland Browns to the league championship game three times, securing a victory in 1964, and he won the Most Valuable Player Award on three occasions.

Throughout his NFL career, Jim rushed for over 100 yards in 58 out of 118 regular-season games and maintained his durability by never missing a game, particularly in an era when football was known for its brutality. He crossed the 1,000-yard mark in seven different seasons, with standout performances including 1,527 yards in a 12-game season and 1,863 yards over a 14-game NFL regular season . championship title In addition to his outstanding athletic career, Jim was dedicated to empowering the Black community during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and beyond. In June of 1967, he organized "The Cleveland Summit,\" which brought together some of the most prominent Black athletes in America, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ), to support Muhammad Ali in his stand against the Vietnam War draft.

In his later years, Jim actively worked to combat gang violence in Los Angeles, founding Amer-I-Can in 1988, a program aimed at assisting at-risk urban youth and former convicts in reintegrating into society. He also encouraged contemporary Black athletes to engage and contribute to their communities.

Civil Rights Activism

The NFL expressed their condolences in a statement from current commissioner Roger Goodell , who praised Jim Brown as a "remarkably talented athlete\" who "paved the way for athletes to be active in social causes beyond the field.\"

" Words cannot encapsulate the immense love and gratitude we feel for having been a part of Jim's extraordinary life and legacy ,\" stated the Cleveland Browns in an official release. "While we grieve his loss, we celebrate the undeniable light he brought to countless lives. Our thoughts are with Jim's family, loved ones, and everyone he touched with his spirit.\"

Jim decided to retire prematurely at the age of 30, at the peak of his athletic prowess. While filming The Dirty Dozen during the 1966 NFL offseason, the production faced delays due to inclement weather.

The owner of the Cleveland Browns, Art Modell , threatened to withhold Jim's salary if he didn't arrive on time for training camp, which ultimately influenced Jim's decision to step away from professional football as he sought to focus on his acting career and important social issues.

Since Jim Brown's retirement, no player for the Cleveland Browns has worn his iconic number 32, and a bronze monument honoring him was unveiled outside of First Energy Stadium in 2016.

" This is a momentous occasion ,\" Jim Brown remarked during the statue's unveiling, "because I can feel it, especially in my heart and mind.\"

Current Browns owners Jimmy Haslam and Dee Haslam referred to Jim as "a true legend\" and acknowledged, "He was undoubtedly the best to ever wear a Browns uniform and is arguably one of the greatest players in NFL history ,\" in a statement released last Friday.

"Jim played a significant role in establishing a loyal fan base for the Browns. Many fans grew up watching him dominate on the field, and while his accolades are impressive, they only scratch the surface of who he was as a person,\" they added.

At Syracuse University , Jim excelled in an astonishing four sports, including football, lacrosse, basketball, and track. He was also recognized as one of the finest lacrosse players in history, once scoring five goals in a single half during an all-star game. National Football League .

During his tenure at Syracuse, Jim also took on the role of place-kicker for the football team, achieving an NCAA record of 43 points in a game against Colgate in 1956 through 6 touchdowns and 7 extra points. He led the nation in rushing touchdowns that same season and topped the kickoff return average in 1955. Over his college career, Brown accumulated 2,091 rushing yards and scored 26 touchdowns for Syracuse. Cleveland Browns "Whenever Jim Brown's name was mentioned in a room, fellow Hall of Famers would rise to applaud him,\" noted Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter . "His legacy has stood the test of time -- he was a fearless and dominant football player. Jim will forever be celebrated as one of the greatest figures in professional football.\"

College Sports Career

Jim Brown's Off-the-Field Legal Issues

After his retirement, Jim faced various legal troubles, especially in his younger years, but he managed to control his aggressive tendencies as he matured.

Jim was arrested six times, primarily for domestic violence. He once faced a fine and jail time for assaulting a golfing partner. In 1985, he faced serious charges of rape, sexual battery, and assault , but these charges were eventually dismissed.

The subsequent year, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his then-fiancee. In 1999, he was acquitted on domestic threats against his wife but was convicted for vandalizing her car, leading to time in jail after he refused mandated domestic violence counseling.

Jim Brown's Career Achievements and Recognition

Three-time NFL Most Valuable Player (1957, 1958, 1965)

Eight-time First Team All-Pro (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965)

Five-time NFL Leader in Rushing Touchdowns (1957, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1965)

• NFL Champion (1964)
• Selected for the NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL Rookie of the Year Award Winner (1957)
• Selected for the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
• Second - Team All - Pro Selection (1962)
• 9 - Time NFL Pro Bowl Selection (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965)
• 8 - Time NFL Rushing Yards Leader (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965)
• Selected for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL Scoring Leader (1958)
• NFL 1960’s All - Decade Team Selection
• Inducted into the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor
• Third Team All-American (1955)
• Named one of the Greatest College Football Players Ever in the College Football 150 (2020)
• Bert Bell Award Winner (1963)
• "Jim Brown, one of the greatest in football history, passes away at 87\"
• Cleveland Browns Number 32 Retired
• Unanimous All - American Selection (1956)
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• Syracuse Orange Number 44 Retired
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Sources:

NFL Icon and Activist Jim Brown Passes Away at 87 Years of Age , espn.com, May 19, 2023.

“Jim Brown” , pro-football-reference.com, May 19, 2023.

Written by: Michael Shackleford