NEWSLETTER
Sad news for the football world this afternoon as the NFL announced that legendary Browns running back Jim Brown had passed away at 87. Brown was a Hall of Fame running back on the field and an equally impressive person off the field.
Brown spent nine years with the Cleveland Browns. He was a legendary blend of speed and power, bulldozing defenders en route to 12,312 rushing yards. That was an NFL record until Walter Payton broke it in 1984. Brown was a three-time NFL MVP and the only player in NFL history to average over 100 rushing yards per game for his entire career.
Brown walked away from football in 1965 after nine seasons after a disagreement with former Browns owner Art Modell. The legendary running back was as dynamic a force on the field as he was off the field.
“It’s impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim’s incredible life and legacy. We mourn his passing but celebrate the indelible light he brought to the world. Our hearts are with Jim’s family, loved ones, and all those he impacted along the way.”
The NFL released a statement on Jim Brown’s passing this afternoon:
“On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Monique and their family,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Jim Brown was a gifted athlete — one of the most dominant players to ever step on any athletic field — but also a cultural figure who helped promote change.
“During his nine-year NFL career, which coincided with the civil rights movement here at home, he became a forerunner and role model for athletes being involved in social initiatives outside their sport. He inspired fellow athletes to make a difference, especially in the communities in which they lived.”
Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 and was named to the NFL’s 100th anniversary all-time team in 2019.
