Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has died at the age of 87. Brown was a unstoppable running back who retired at the peak of his brilliant career to become an actor as well as a prominent civil rights advocate during the 1960s.
One of football’s first superstars, Brown was chosen the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league’s record books in his short career.
Brown led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL title in 1964 before retiring in his prime after the ’65 season to become an actor.
Brown was selected in the first round of the 1957 draft, played nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns (1957-65) and led the league in rushing eight of those years.
He rushed for 12,312 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry over his career. He also was named a Pro Bowler every year he played.
Brown ran for at least 100 yards in 58 of his 118 regular-season games, never missing a game. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in seven seasons, including 1,527 yards in one 12-game season and 1,863 in a 14-game season.
His wife, Monique, announced Brown’s death in an Instagram post Friday afternoon. She said Brown “passed peacefully” Thursday night in their home in Los Angeles.
“To the world he was an activist, actor, and football star,” the post stated. “To our family he was a loving and wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken…”
In 2020, Brown was selected to the NFL 100 all-time team and also was ranked as the No. 1 all-time player on the College Football 150 list.
He was named the greatest football player ever by the Sporting News in 2002.
Brown appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.” As Black Americans fought for equality, Brown used his platform and voice to advance their cause.
Brown is survived by Monique and their child. He was divorced after 13 years of marriage from Sue Brown, with whom he had three children.
Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown. Photo courtsey of Cleveland.com
