Remembering NFL Great Jim Brown, a Legend On and Off The Field

At the age of 87, Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has passed away, leaving an inspiring legacy both on and off the field.

Today the sports world mourns the loss of one of its most iconic athletes, NFL Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown.

Born in St. Simons, Georgia, Brown would go on to play for the Cleveland Browns from 1957-1965. He was named an All-Pro in eight out of his nine seasons, regularly leading the league in rushing, and never missed the Pro Bowl nor a game, winning league MVP honors three times.

At the time of his retirement, Brown held nearly every rushing record in league history. Even today, his records still rank highly amongst the all-time greats despite retiring by choice while still dominating the league. 

Historically speaking, his 106 rushing touchdowns rank sixth, while his 12,312 rushing yards rank eleventh all-time, his career average of 5.2 yards per carry, is the most of any player that’s surpassed 10,000 career rushing yards.

RIP to the Legend Jim Brown

Sad day for football fans around the world. You talk about leaders of men, he was one of them. He was someone I watched highlights of for hours growing up as a kid. Truly an all time great. pic.twitter.com/7RYSPBb0vO

— WUB 🔊 (@WUB30) May 19, 2023

Despite being named ESPN's No. 4 athlete of the 20th century, Brown is best known by some people for his stances outside of sports.

Back in 1967, Brown joined NBA players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell, amongst other black athletes, in support of Muhammad Ali’s refusal to fight in the Vietnam War. He also worked to combat gang violence in L.A. and founded Amer-I-Can program, to support the less fortunate inner-city youth as well as ex-convicts.

With Brown's passing, he joins Bill Russell, as the second iconic sports activist to have passed in the last calendar year. In their place stands a new generation of athletes, such as LeBron James, who use their platforms to not only entertain viewers but seek change.

Though passing after 87 years, Brown's legacy both on and off the field, will continue to live on and future generations.

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