Jan 31, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Former football player Jim Brown on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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(New York, NY) — Jim Brown, a name that is still synonymous with greatness at running back, died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles, his wife told the Associated Press. He was 87 years old.
In his career, Brown played nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns and led the league in rushing eight times. He was a Pro Bowler all nine seasons and a first-team All-Pro eight times. Before he retired in 1966, he had the most rushing yards and touchdowns in NFL history. He made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. A multi-sport athlete in college, he’s also a member of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame and considered one of the greats in that sport.
Beyond football, Brown’s legacy is deep in complex. He’s been a civil rights activist and a fixture in political advocacy, supporting Democrats and Republicans over the years. He was an actor (which was the reason he retired in his prime) in both movies and television. Brown’s time in the public eye also involved multiple instances of violence against women, which included a jail sentence in 1999 for shattering his wife’s windshield.
Even with his long, storied life aside from football, his legacy remains defined by his unparalleled excellence on the gridiron.
