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(Cleveland) - Jim Brown, without question the greatest Cleveland Browns player of all time, died Friday at the age of 87. His death was confirmed by his wife on his Instagram page.
Here's what the Pro Football Hall of Fame said about Jim Brown:
Brown was a superb craftsman whose primary job was to run with the football for the Cleveland Browns. For nine seasons, he did it better than any player before him. When he retired at the age of 30 at the peak of his career, he left behind a record book clogged with Jim Brown notations.
Brown was more than just a one-of-a-kind running back. He caught passes, returned kickoffs and even threw three touchdown passes. His 12,312 rushing yards and 15,459 combined net yards put him in a then-class by himself. Jim was a unanimous first-team All-NFL pick eight times, from 1957 through 1961 and 1963-1965.
He played in nine Pro Bowls in nine years and was the game’s outstanding back three times. He closed out his career with a three-touchdown outburst in the 1966 Pro Bowl.
Brown was unanimously named the Rookie of the Year in 1957. He was recognized that season as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player by many media organizations. In all, he earned league MVP honors four times (1957, 1958, 1963 and 1965). He was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team, the All-Time NFL Team (selected in 2000) and the NFL “All-Decade” Team for the 1960s.
In the summer of 1966, Jim stunned the sports world with his announcement that he was retiring. Fans still ponder what heights he might have reached had he stayed on the firing line a few more seasons. As exceptional as Brown's statistics were, his durability may have been even more amazing. Despite a constant pounding from defenses always stacked against him personally, he never missed a game in nine years.
At the time of his retirement, Jim Brown held a total of 15 individual career and single season NFL records, along with nine rushing titles for his career.
Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said this about Jim Brown:
“Jim Brown is a true icon of not just the Cleveland Browns but the entire NFL. He was certainly the greatest to ever put on a Browns uniform and arguably one of the greatest players in NFL history. Jim was one of the reasons the Browns have such a tremendous fan base today. So many people grew up watching him just dominate every time he stepped onto the football field but his countless accolades on the field only tell a small part of his story.
His commitment to making a positive impact for all of humanity off the field is what he should also be known for. In the time we’ve spent with Jim, especially when we first became a part of the Browns, we learned so much from him about the unifying force sports can be and how to use sport as a vehicle for change while making a positive impact in the community. Jim broke down barriers just as he broke tackles. He fought for civil rights, brought athletes from all different sports together to use their platform for good. Many thought Jim retired from football too soon, but he always did it his way. From the football field, to Hollywood, to his work in athlete activism, Jim always played the leading role. His devotion to fighting racial injustice, improving education for youth and positively impacting the many lives he has through his Amer-I-Can Program has left a lasting legacy well beyond all he accomplished on the field.
Jim Brown is the Cleveland Browns and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Monique, his children and entire family as well as all those who mourn this immense loss.”
Herre are 32 facts about number 32, courtesy of the Cleveland Browns:
· Born James Nathaniel Brown in St. Simons Island, Ga. on February 17, 1936.
· Cleveland’s No. 1 draft choice (sixth overall) in 1957.
· Despite playing just 118 games, he still ranks among the NFL all-time leading RBs in rushing average (third), rushing touchdowns (sixth) and rushing yards (11th).
· Led the NFL in rushing during eight of his nine seasons.
· Led the league in touchdowns five seasons.
· A statue of his likeness was unveiled outside the southeast corner of Cleveland Browns Stadium in 2016.
· Founded the Amer-I-Can Program in 1988. The program works in schools, prisons and communities across the country.
· Member of the NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
· Named to the NFL’s 1960s All-Decade Team.
· Helped the Browns to three NFL Championship games, including capturing the title in 1964.
· Attended Manhasset High School in Manhasset and earned 13 varsity letters in five sports: football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball and track.
· Enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1971.
· Enshrined in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1984.
· Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
· No other Browns player has worn his legendary No. 32 since his retirement in 1965.
· Selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls.
· Three-time NFL MVP (1957, 1958 and 1965), the only non-QB in NFL history to win the award three times.
· Named NFL Rookie of the Year in 1957.
· First player in NFL history to eclipse 10,000 career rushing yards.
· Rushed for 12,312 yards on 2,359 career carries in 118 games.
· When he retired he held the NFL record for rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
· Inducted into the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor.
· Syracuse retired his No. 44.
· Multisport athlete at Syracuse as he also participated in basketball, track and lacrosse.
· As an actor, appeared in films ranging from 1964-2014.
· While at Syracuse, earned All-American honors in football and lacrosse and was one of the basketball team’s top scorers.
· Only player in NFL history to average more than 100 rushing yards per game.
· Still Cleveland Browns record holder in numerous categories including career rushing yards (12,321), career rushing touchdowns (106), most total touchdowns (126), most total touchdowns in a season (21 in 1965), rushing yards in a season (1,886 in 1963), rushing touchdowns in a season (17 in 1958 and 1965), rushing average for a season (6.40 in 1963) and most rushing touchdowns in a game (five at the Baltimore Colts on Nov. 1, 1959).
· Never missed a game in any of his nine NFL seasons.
· In February 2023, the NFL announced it had renamed its league rushing title as The Jim Brown Award.
· His final season, he led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,544. The total was 677 more yards than runner-up Gale Sayers.
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